Two of our researchers have recently appeared in Dutch media to shed light on how technological dependence, geopolitical dynamics, and algorithmic systems increasingly shape contemporary warfare.
During her interview with Sophie Derkzen on NPO’s Bureau Buitenland, Lauren Gould discussed the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro. She explained how the mission relied on surveillance systems, and informant networks rather than large troop deployments illustrating a broader shift toward remote, data‑driven military operations. Companies such as Palantir help process the vast amounts of intelligence these systems generate, turning data into potential targets. Gould warned that this abundance of algorithmically‑produced targets can drive an escalation in strikes and increase civilian harm. She also noted that in contexts like Gaza, crucial feedback loops that should refine targeting algorithms are not being used, compounding these risks.
In her Trouw interview, Gould also raised concerns about the growing entanglements between education and defense. She called for a broader societal debate on how these developments align with academic freedom and what kind of future, and what kind of wars, we are preparing young people for.
Jessica Dorsey appeared in the Argos/VPRO documentary F‑35: Onder Trumps vleugels where she discussed the strategic, legal and ethical implications of Europe’s dependence on the United States for operating the F‑35. She stressed that decisions to use force must begin with fundamental questions about values and purpose. Because the U.S. to some extent controls the aircraft’s core software updates, there is a possibility it might be able to effectively block Dutch deployment in missions it does not support, which in a sense constitutes an indirect “kill switch” that threatens military autonomy and democratic self‑determination. These concerns are especially pressing in light of the Dutch Ministry of Defence’s plans to cooperate with U.S. partners and companies on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative, which aims to develop autonomous unmanned air systems.
Across their appearances, both researchers point to a concerning trajectory: as warfare becomes increasingly AI‑intensive and algorithmically mediated, existing dependencies grow deeper. If states already struggle to maintain sovereignty over systems controlled by external providers or foreign political actors, the rise of autonomous decision‑making will intensify these vulnerabilities.
