Switzerland and ICRC warn of digital threats in conflict zones

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Switzerland and ICRC warn of digital threats in conflict zones

10:14 CAT | 23 May 2023

From left to right: Senior Techplomacy Delegate at the ICRC Philippe Stoll, President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohamed {Photo: @PStollICRC]

Swiss President Alain Berset has co-opened an exhibition at the United Nations in New York about the dangers of digitalisation to humanitarian aid.

“New technologies can reduce the burden on the civilian population,” Berset told ambassadors and state representatives on Monday night. “But they also bring new threats, like disinformation or illegal surveillance.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) can lead to more violence if used maliciously, while exchanging civilian data can leave them more vulnerable, he said.

Berset is in New York this week to chair various discussions as Switzerland currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council for a month.

On Tuesday, he will chair a Security Council debate on civilian protection in conflicts – one of four thematic priorities for Switzerland’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the council.

ICRC involvement

The exhibition was co-organised by the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said it was vital that new technologies in conflict situations be governed by international humanitarian law. According to this law, neither civilians nor medical infrastructure should be targeted.

The aim is to “make it easier to understand what it means to be hacked, monitored or the victim of a digital war,” the ICRC’s Philippe Stoll told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

In recent years, the ICRC itself has faced digital attacks, most notably a year ago when the details of 515,000 recipients of its aid were compromised.

Marking #ProtectionofCivilians week 2023, @ICRC_NYC and @swiss_un are launching #DigitalDilemmas @UN Headquarters today. Experience the digital dilemmas that civilians and humanitarians face daily. How would you react?

See more 👇https://t.co/Ub7beM8SW8 pic.twitter.com/wkHpTPTi4Y

— ICRC at the UN in NY 🗽 (@ICRC_NYC) May 22, 2023

It was a true honor to present #digitaldilemmas to @AminaJMohammed @alain_berset @FNyusi and @ICRCPresident as to mark the opening of #PoCWeek2023 and to shed light on #digital harm civilians face in armed conflicts.

Digital risk, real life consequenceshttps://t.co/1DjDPjLeIc pic.twitter.com/WRysBMynk3

— Philippe Stoll (@PStollICRC) May 23, 2023