Smuggled Conflict Minerals, PlayStation Military Handsets, and Tech Bros’ Influence on Military AI

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This Week in Tech for War and Peace

This week, the Wall Street Journal published an in-depth story on the militia-controlled mines in Congo. The minerals from the mines increasingly flow into global supply chains for smartphones and computers. I have previously covered complex stories and tragedies related to conflict minerals here and here.

The Pentagon has started using video-game-style controllers familiar to anyone who grew up with an Xbox or PlayStation for a range of military systems.

But first, in an opinion piece in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Paul Lushenko and Keith Carter questions the tech bros’s influence on the current debate on military AI:

“Ukraine has been a great laboratory. What I think the Ukrainians have discovered is that they’re not going to use anything that doesn’t work on the battlefield, period. [...] Ukraine is at war, and people are being killed. But, you want to take those lessons learned.”

— Brandon Tseng, Co-founder, Shield AI

The Big Story

Smuggling of Conflict Minerals into Tech

Congo is the world’s leading producer of coltan, from which tantalum is extracted. In 2023, Congo produced about 40% of the world’s coltan.

Coltan is mined in the eastern Congo, which has been largely taken over by the M23 militia over the past two years, leaving two million people displaced, and many victims of deadly violence, torture, and rape.

The militia has seized control over Congo’s coltan production and transport, and a network of smuggling routes is increasingly being used to move the minerals into neighbouring Rwanda. From there, the now “conflict-free” minerals are sold to smelters worldwide. The smuggled coltan helped transform Rwanda into the world’s largest exporter: last year, Rwanda's exports surged while Congo’s dropped, indicating that large and increasing quantities are being smuggled.

“The criminal laundering of [Congo’s] natural resources smuggled out of the country is strengthening armed groups, sustaining the exploitation of civilian populations, some of them reduced to de facto slavery, and undermining peacemaking e?orts,” Bintou Keita, the head of the UN mission in Congo, told the UN Security Council last Monday.

The US has long been making efforts to stop so-called conflict minerals. The legislation embedded in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act requires US-listed companies to disclose their use of critical minerals, also known as 3TGs, and declare the steps they are taking to prevent them from financing armed groups. However, it doesn’t oblige the companies to remove tainted materials from their supply chains.

In July, the US government warned companies that the traceability initiatives meant to ensure the conflict-free status of tantalum and other Congolese minerals are failing. “Risks associated with human rights and labour rights abuses, corruption, and conflict finance have escalated because of the renewed and ongoing serious conflict,” the US Department of State said.

A recent surge in violence in eastern Congo has impacted the world’s largest exporter: last year, Rwandan exports surged while Congo’s dropped, indicating a near-record global demand for tantalum, which is highly resistant to corrosion and heat and is used in products from Apple iPhones to IBM computers and SpaceX rockets.

The Wall Street Journal did not receive a response to its request for comment from SpaceX. An IBM spokesman said that the company has policies and practices in place, and an Apple spokesman referred to its latest annual supply-chain report.

Project Blue, a London-based company researching the critical materials market, expects demand for tantalum to grow more than 20% over the next five years because of its use in semiconductors and numerous other consumer products.

PlayStation-like Military Handsets?

Pentagon has started using video-game-style controllers familiar to anyone who grew up with an Xbox or PlayStation.

The recent adoption of handsets, or Freedom of Movement Control Units (FMCU), across new weapon platforms, reflects a growing trend in the US military toward controls that are inherently familiar to the next generation.

“Utilizing a PlayStation or Xbox type of controller such as the FMCU seems to be a natural transition for the gaming generation,” an Air Force spokesman told WIRED.

The US Defence Department has gradually been integrating FMCUs as the primary control units for a variety of advanced weapon systems, including a Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, the Maneuver-Short Range Air Defence, the Recovery of Air Bases Denied by Ordnance truck, the High Energy Laser-Expeditionary laser weapon system, and a variety of experimental unmanned vehicles.

Measurement Systems Inc., a subsidiary of British defence contractor Ultra specialising in human-machine interfaces, has produced an FMCU since 2008. Similar to the standard Xbox or PlayStation controller, it has a rugged design to safeguard sensitive electronics. MSI has also served as a subcontractor to major defence companies such as General Atomics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems.

The first FMCU was used in 2010 in the Navy’s MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned autonomous helicopter and the Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System.

In the News

Department of Defense Announces New Loan Program for Critical Technology Projects

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has launched a loan program providing up to $984 million for critical technology projects. This initiative, managed by the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), is designed to support projects in 31 key technology areas essential to national security, including biotechnology, quantum science, and advanced materials. The program aims to bridge the gap between research and large-scale production by offering loans between $10 million and $150 million to finance equipment acquisition and manufacturing expansion. The loan application process begins in January 2025, with a focus on aligning projects with U.S. economic and security interests.

Read more at HK Law.

Hanwha Aerospace Presents K9A3, An Autonomous Version Of K9 Thunder For Strategic Long-Range Strikes At KADEX 2024

At KADEX 2024, Hanwha Aerospace unveiled the K9A3, an autonomous version of the K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzer. The K9A3, designed for Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) operations, features a longer barrel and improved range, capable of striking targets over 80 km away. With full automation and remote operation capabilities, the K9A3 minimizes crew exposure and enhances firepower. The system is expected to play a critical role in network-centric warfare, providing strategic long-range artillery support while reducing human risks on the battlefield.

Read more at Army Recognition.

Stop Killer Robots Campaign Receives Golden Dove International Peace Prize

The Stop Killer Robots Campaign, a global network advocating against using fully autonomous weapons, has received the 2024 Golden Dove International Peace Prize. This award recognizes the campaign’s efforts to raise awareness about the ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence in warfare. Peter Asaro, a key figure in the campaign, highlighted the dangers of delegating life-and-death decisions to machines, stressing the urgency of establishing international laws to regulate autonomous weapons systems. The award reflects growing international support for a treaty to ban lethal autonomous weapons.

Read more at Oikoumene.

Palmer Luckey Slammed Restrictions on AI Use in The Military

Palmer Luckey, the founder of defence tech startup Anduril Industries, criticized potential AI restrictions in military use during a talk at Pepperdine University. Luckey warned that adversaries like Russia and China are advancing AI military applications while Western countries face pressure to limit AI use in weapons and defence. He argued that restricting AI would force the U.S. and its allies to use less precise, more destructive systems. Anduril’s autonomous technologies, like its Altius-600M drones, play a key role in U.S. military operations, highlighting the need for AI-enabled precision in modern warfare.

Read more at Business Insider.

Pentagon Contracts for $96M in Oura Smart Rings

The Pentagon has awarded a $96 million contract to Oura, a Finnish health technology company, to supply biometric smart rings for U.S. service members. These rings, which track physiological data such as stress and recovery, are part of the Defense Health Agency’s efforts to monitor the well-being of military personnel. The contract also includes data analytics services to help visualize individual and aggregate health data, providing insights into workforce health and readiness. This is part of a broader initiative to integrate wearable technology into military operations for enhanced health monitoring.

Read more at Defense Scoop.

Saab, KAI Sign MoU for AEW&C II Competition

Saab and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the Republic of Korea’s AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) II program. Saab’s GlobalEye, an advanced AEW&C platform, is a leading contender in the competition. The MoU includes industrial cooperation and technology transfer, enabling KAI to conduct future modifications, maintenance, and repairs of the GlobalEye system. This partnership bolsters South Korea’s airborne surveillance capabilities while fostering domestic expertise in special mission aircraft.

Read more at Asia Pacific Defence Reporter.

US Funding Drives Investment for European Military Tech Start-ups

US investors have significantly increased funding in European military tech start-ups, providing 65% of venture capital in the sector this year. The largest deal was a €450 million investment in Munich-based AI defence start-up Helsing. US venture capitalists have invested $458 million in European defence tech in 2024, a sharp rise from 18% the previous year. The surge in funding reflects the increasing importance of developing cutting-edge military technologies amidst rising global conflicts, with Germany, the UK, and France leading the investment growth in Europe.

Read more at Finacial Times.

The archive for previous editions is accessible at techforwarandpeace.com