What is a cyber humanitarian intervention?

Criminals who commit mass atrocities, such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, depend more and more on the internet and social media to publicize, plan, fund, and carry out their crimes. Determining how proactive cyber-operations might aid in preventing and reducing the methods and motives used by offenders to commit such crimes is crucial.

In this piece, we explore the idea of “cyber humanitarian interventions” as a potential means of defending populations from terrible human rights abuses in the age of the internet.

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and digital threats have made cyber humanitarian intervention a necessity. Keeping people safe from malicious actors on the internet requires an understanding of how to intervene effectively in cyber conflicts and how to protect against possible attacks. With knowledge and resources, it’s possible to help those affected by cyber-based disasters and prevent future attacks.

What is a cyber humanitarian intervention?

The employment of proactive cyber-operations to stop and lessen mass atrocity crimes is known as a “cyber humanitarian intervention.” Blocking the criminals’ communication networks, gaining access to their financial and logistical supply chains, and swaying them with algorithms “targeted teaching campaigns” are just a few examples of cyber humanitarian interventions. These “targeted educational campaigns” promote moderation and observance of human rights, speak directly to the target audience, and appear as suggested advertisements on social media platforms. 

What part does the internet play in today’s terror attacks?

It has received a lot of attention how violent non-state actors and regimes have used social media platforms as weapons to promote propaganda, misinformation, and hate speech. However, those who commit atrocities have also used digital tools to plan, finance, and carry out their crimes.

For instance, the Houthi de facto government in Yemen has been funding its criminal acts by mining digital currencies like cryptocurrencies. In order to carry out “psychological warfare,” Boko Haram uses WhatsApp to send direct messages to civilians that say, “We’re coming” and “You’re next.” Al-Shabaab utilized direct Twitter messaging to connect with the militants storming the mall during the 2013 West Gate Mall bombings in Nairobi, in addition to live-tweeting the assault and openly mocking the Kenyan troops. The intention was to help individuals inside the mall evade capture by alerting them to Kenyan police and Kenya Défense Forces activities. Finally, after the Taliban (re)took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the organization used people’s social media profiles to find and identify potential rebels. These are just a few examples that show atrocity crime offenders are present online. The use of such technology by violent actors is likely to grow and evolve as internet usage spreads around the world, perhaps even in previously unforeseen ways.

What successful instances of cyber-humanitarian action can you cite?

Operation Glowing Symphony, a collaboration between the Australian Signals Directorate, the United States Cyber Command, and the United Kingdom’s GCHQ that targeted the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, is one instance of a successful “cyber humanitarian intervention” (ISIS). In order to prevent ISIS from acquiring supplies like ammunition to commit crimes, the cyber-operation involves blocking the group’s communication networks and financial operations. The coalition was also successful in breaking into ISIS’ networks, eradicating gigabytes of recruitment-related materials, intercepting communications, and changing members’ passwords to prevent future access and spread confusion among militants.

This is an ideal example of a cyber humanitarian intervention given that ISIS has committed numerous atrocity crimes, notably the genocide of the Yazidis; nonetheless, the majority of this operation took place in the framework of counterterrorism, not atrocity prevention. All atrocity perpetrators should be the target of cyber humanitarian efforts (not just terrorist organizations that threaten the West).

Cyber humanitarian intervention is an important step in providing help and support to those who are in need. It can make a real difference by offering assistance that would not be available without technology. By helping people all around the world, it’s possible to improve lives and create a more equitable society for everyone.

Let’s come together and use technology for good! Cyber humanitarian intervention is an amazing way to make a real difference in people’s lives all around the world. With our help, we can create a better future where everyone has access to basic needs and resources.