ICCR Fall Conference 2023 | Big Risks, Small Packages: The Indispensability of Semiconductors to Drone Warfare and the Modern Face of Global Conflict

On March 16, 2023, Heartland hosted a panel discussion titled “Big Risks, Small Packages: The Indispensability of Semiconductors to Drone Warfare and the Modern Face of Global Conflict” at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility’s Fall Conference.

The session provided participants with a practical overview of the types, value chains, and human rights risks associated with semiconductors used in Russian, Iranian, and Turkish drones deployed in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, and other global hotspots. Panelists discussed the gaps and recent developments in sanctions and export controls, the key players involved in semiconductor supply chains, and the human costs linked to the use of these technologies by authoritarian regimes, with a particular focus on Russia and Syria.

Experts and investors also outlined specific actions companies could take, including suspending the supply of certain products, integrating human rights criteria into know-your-customer due diligence, and adopting other measures to mitigate the risks associated with drone-based violations of international law.

Sam Jones of Heartland was joined by Pat Zerega (Mercy Investment Services), Denys Hutyk (Economic Security Council of Ukraine), Frank Slijper (PAX), and Gary Somerville (Royal United Services Institute).

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