From weapons to watchdogs: reimagining AI-enabled drones as tools for peace and civilian protection in UN peacekeeping operations

Abstract

This article examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled drones can be legally and operationally used in UN peacekeeping operations. It challenges the dominant, risk-focused narrative surrounding military AI, which casts drones primarily as weapons. It proposes an alternative framing: reimagining non-lethal, AI-enabled drones as ‘protective infrastructure’ for civilian protection. The core argument is that the lawful and legitimate use of this technology is not inherent but is contingent upon a comprehensive framework of verifiable safeguards. Through an analysis of international law, the article examines the notion of peace as a human right, and for that reason how drones can be used to promote peace. The article however demonstrates that the primary obstacle to the use of drones for such purposes is often the host state’s assertion of ‘informational sovereignty.’ To overcome this, the article develops an integrated framework of seven legal-operational conditions for lawful deployment, covering the mandate, host-state consent, human rights compliance, verifiable human control, and community acceptance. The article concludes that the legitimacy of using these technologies must be earned through a robust, institutionalised system of governance, providing a practical roadmap for harnessing technology for peace.