Austria

LBI-OPEN since 2018-08-30, EXPLICIT

Supports negotiating a legally binding instrument, form unspecified.

Austria, with Brazil and Chile, formally proposed a CCW mandate to negotiate a legally binding instrument ensuring meaningful human control. The proposal does not yet specify a prohibitions-plus- regulations structure.

The 2018 working paper proposes a mandate to negotiate a legally binding instrument.

negotiate a legally-binding instrument to ensure meaningful human control over critical functions in lethal autonomous weapon systems

Proposal for a Mandate to Negotiate a Legally-binding Instrument that addresses the Legal, Humanitarian and Ethical Concerns posed by Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (CCW/GGE.2/2018/WP.7), 2018-08-30 source

LBI-BAN since 2024-04-30, EXPLICIT

Supports a legally binding instrument that includes prohibitions.

As chair of the April 2024 Vienna Conference and in its submission for the Secretary-General's report, Austria states support for a legally binding instrument consisting of prohibitions and regulations, to be concluded by 2026. Austria initiated the UNGA resolution track in 2023 and voted Yes on all three resolutions.

The chair's summary affirms commitment to an international legal instrument on autonomous weapons systems.

affirms our strong commitment to work with urgency and with all interested stakeholders for an international legal instrument to regulate autonomous weapons systems

Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation. Chair's Summary, 2024-04-30 source

The chair's summary records convergence on explicit prohibitions within a two-tier structure.

There is strong convergence that AWS that cannot be used in accordance with international law or that are ethically unacceptable should be explicitly prohibited.

Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation. Chair's Summary, 2024-04-30 source

Austria's submission states support for a legally binding instrument structured as prohibitions plus regulations.

Austria will therefore promote negotiations for a legally binding instrument that consists of prohibitions and regulations.

UNGA Resolution 78/241: Submission by Austria, 2024-05-28 source

Austria endorses 2026 as the target date for concluding a legally binding instrument.

the objective of concluding a legally-binding instrument by 2026 is an appropriate target date

UNGA Resolution 78/241: Submission by Austria, 2024-05-28 source

Austria reaffirms its position in favour of a legally binding instrument in 2025.

emphasize its position in favour of a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems

UNGA Resolution 79/239: Submission by Austria, 2025-05-12 source

The Foreign Ministry states the national position for international legal regulation with human control.

Austria takes the clear position that significant human control over autonomous weapon systems is necessary and supports the international legal regulation of these weapon systems.

Autonomous Weapons Systems (ministry topic page, undated; date given is access date), 2026-07-16 source

Shift: LBI-OPEN → LBI-BAN 2024-04-30

First verified Austrian-authored text committing to explicit prohibitions.

There is strong convergence that AWS that cannot be used in accordance with international law or that are ethically unacceptable should be explicitly prohibited.

Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation. Chair's Summary, 2024-04-30 source

The submission commits to promoting negotiations for an instrument of prohibitions and regulations.

Austria will therefore promote negotiations for a legally binding instrument that consists of prohibitions and regulations.

UNGA Resolution 78/241: Submission by Austria, 2024-05-28 source