Peter W. Singer Testifies to Congress: The Robot Wars Are Coming

In a hearing yesterday of the National Security and Foreign Affairs subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, a director of a joint Brookings Institution-DOD effort called the 21st Century Defense Initiative offered some information about America’s use of robotics in warfare, in the future but also right now. Click here to see video of these robots (beginning at minute 2), including a four-legged robot capable of carrying 340 pounds of equipment or weaponry that can keep its footing amidst sand, snow, ice, rugged terrain and body blows. Beginning at minute 56, Initiative Director Peter W. Singer can be watched offering his prepared testimony, the written version of which can be reviewed here. Among the highlights:

Rapid expansion of robotic warfare to over 19,000 units ready for action:

When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, we had a handful of unmanned systems in the air. We now have over 7,000. On the ground, the invasion force had zero. We now have over 12,000 in U.S. military inventory…. Its current plans, as one 3 star general described are that it will soon be using ‘tens of thousands.’

Vulnerability of robotic weapons to hacking:

How do you ensure digital systems’ security, so that foes can’t tap into their communications, as insurgents in Iraq were able to do with a $30 software package they bought off the internet?

Robotic weapons are mainly under the operational control of private corporations:

…presently 75% of the maintenance and weapons loading of systems like the Predator have been outsourced to private contractors, including to controversial firms like Blackwater, while other Army systems operating in Iraq have been described as “government-owned-contractor operated”.

Military robots are starting to be used by civilians:

It is not just the military that is using unmanned systems. DHS is flying them for border security. But so are some of the civilian vigilante “border militias,” as well as criminals using them to scout targets. Local police departments like Miami Dade have gotten authorization to use them.

Over the past day 5,545 news media reports have pounced on reports that Vice President Joseph Biden may have uttered the word “fuck” yesterday, but only one news media outlet has referred to Singer’s testimony. Which information is more deserving of our attention?