Legal Constraints on Information Warfare

Abstract

As societies and economies increasingly rely on electronic telecommunications, they grow more vulnerable to threats from other computer systems. At the same time, states' military and intelligence organizations are increasingly developing the capability to attack and defend these assets. As with the introduction of earlier weapons systems, some would-be users express the belief that the laws restraining warfare no longer apply. This essay seeks to explain the emerging relationship between technology, electronic telecommunications, and the laws of war. In particular, this essay seeks to show how the norm requiring the discrimination between military and civilian objectives may be retained in an era of long-distance warfare. Finally, it presents a model protocol to guide warriors and lawyers in planning or judging the legitimacy of information operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA407469

Entities

People

  • Mark R. Shulman

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Communication Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electrical Grids
  • Electronic Mail
  • Employment
  • Information Operations
  • Information Warfare
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics