Adapting International Humanitarian Law for the Digital Battlefield: Navigating Cyber Warfare and Technological Advancements

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify relationships between technology, cyber warfare, and IHL relating to it. As quickly as cyber operations become a part of the contemporary conflict, traditional IHL frameworks become less and less efficient. This study addresses the principles of emerging technologies, particularly cyber warfare, that need to be regulated, and IHL principles that need to be adjusted accordingly. The traditional principles of IHL, as shown in this research, simply do not provide any legal or even normative guidance when translated to the cyber domain. Therefore, international agreements on IHL need to be adjusted promptly due to technological progress in this field. The article offers several prospective decisions on changing and updating IHL, focusing on developing international consensus and cooperation. The results of this study offer practical advice to policymakers, legal experts, and military tacticians, as they aim for more disciplined and focused IHL in the Age of the Internet. This research deals with current legal issues and predicts further development of issues, focused on secure IHL evolution in the digital domain.