We seek dialogue with States on how international humanitarian law - IHL - limits these operations.Īs a matter of law and practice, and as highlighted in the 2021 GGE report, there can be no doubt: IHL applies only in situations of armed conflict. Today, our mandate to protect civilians as well as wounded and captured soldiers requires us to also follow how cyber and other digital operations are used in times of armed conflict. They have been highlighted in the consensus reports of the OEWG and of the GGE and many delegations have reiterated them during the first session.Īs a humanitarian organization we witness unspeakable suffering in many conflicts around the world, primarily from the use of 'traditional' warfare strategies. These concerns are today as relevant as ever.

Since the establishment of the first OEWG in 2019, the ICRC has repeatedly expressed concern about the growing use of cyber operations during armed conflict, their potential human cost and their disruptive effects on civilian infrastructure.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is grateful for the opportunity to take the floor for a second time in this session.

ICRC statement on International Law in the second session of the OEWG on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies.

The law of armed conflict cyber warfare