Military Technologies, Nanotechnology and Law: Using Nano-Science Fiction as an Analytical Tool

Abstract

The author uses Prey, the science fiction novel by Michael Crichton, as a tool to examine the nanotechnology issues present today and those issues that will confront the world in the future. This article discusses the domestic and international legal issues that the novel’s corporation and employee would face following the disastrous events that took place in the book.

(The following is taken from a part of the article meant to provide a roadmap to the article.)

The first part of the article discusses where the characters stand at the end of Prey. Part two provides an overview of the characterization of nanotechnologies and the problem with not only maleficence but negligence in the research and development stages. It also provides an introduction to the scope of international principles and national security law approaches which might be used to address the major, global threat of the maleficent use of nanoweapons. The third part of the article applies legal principles to the facts in the Prey scenario in response to the damages, deaths and destruction resulting from the themes of Prey from the perspective of U.S. domestic law. The fourth part addresses the application of international law to the Prey scenario, with recommendations for addressing the potential threat of nanoweapons. The fifth part summarizes the use of nanodiplomacy to reach the goals of national and global security.

Keywords: science fiction, nanotechnology, nanoweapons, Biological Weapons Convention, precautionary principle, biosafety, biosecurity, human clinical trials, negligence

JEL Classification: K00, K19, K39