IP: Information warfare's ethical implications, from AAAS/Rand

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 12:36:14 -0500 
From: ssiang () aaas org (SSIANG)

Subject: Cyber War Article 
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com> 


     Dear Declan,
     
     I am replacing Alex Fowler as Deputy Editor for the Professional 
     Ethics Report, published by AAAS and thought your listserv readers 
     might be interested in the cover article of the Fall 1998 issue, "The 
     Legitimization of Strategic Information Warfare: Ethical 
     Considerations" The article is co-authored by Roger Molander of RAND 
     and me.
     
     The full report can be found at:
     
     http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/sfrl/per/per15.htm
     
     Thanks!
     
     Sanyin Siang
     
     
     
     The first few paragraphs are as follows:
     
     
     
     The development of the Internet and the Web has resulted in a global 
     society dependent on information technology. As a consequence, there 
     emerges profound problems of scientific ethics and international 
     security that have been increasingly drawing the attention of 
     international security experts, especially those concerned about the 
     future of strategic warfare. Call it cyberwar or strategic information 
     warfare (SIW). 
     
     Many countries rely on information-based resources, including 
     management systems and infrastructures involving the control of 
     electric power, money flow, air traffic, and other 
     information-dependent items. SIW occurs when one national seeks to 
     obtain strategic leverage over another by severely disrupting or 
     damage these systems by exploiting the tools of the Internet. Compared 
     to other strategic forms of warfare such as nuclear war or the clash 
     of massed armies, SIW possesses several distinct features. The entry 
     cost is potentially much lower. There is difficulty in ascertaining 
     perpetrator identity, thereby, enhancing opportunities for deceptive 
     attackers. It also generates new tactical warning and attack 
     assessment problems since there is currently no adequate means for
     distinguishing between SIW attacks and other kinds of cyberspace 
     activities, including espionage or accidents. Furthermore, in the 
     world of SIW, there is no frontline; the "battlegrounds" are 
     everywhere, from the stock market to the natural gas pipelines. In
     short, the expanding global network and its rise as a new mode of 
     communication, transcends physical space, thereby muddying the 
     geographical boundaries and traditional distinctions between the 
     public and the private, the criminal and the warlike, the civilian
     and the military. Lastly, SIW seems to possess the redeeming quality 
     of being "much more humane" than other forms of strategic warfare 
     since the only intended casualties would be the crippling of 
     information flow, convenience, and comfort. 
     
     An understanding and development of this technology can lead to great 
     strides in attack capabilities. The question remains whether SIW 
     should be legitimized as a new form of warfare. To explore this 
     question, we will examine the ethical considerations in terms of
     offensive and defensive capabilities............