Cyber Terrorism and International Humanitarian Law

Abstract

Terrorism, the most violent form of perpetration has existed since the inception of human civilization. Though the conventional motives have remained the same, the traditional concepts and methods of terrorism have evolved into deadlier forms with the advancement of modern technology. Information technology is one such area which has increasingly allured the terrorists over the years due to the garb of anonymity it offers to the perpetrators of terror. The increased reliance on information technology by the terrorists has significantly given rise to security dangers and hence this new menace became a major challenge to world security and the phenomenon that evolved came to be known as cyber terrorism. The disastrous impacts associated with cyber terrorism made it all the more impossible to be control or prevented. The issues of safeguarding against the threatening of such operations still remain uncertain. Hence the Geneva Conventions or the current Law of War remains relevant to cyber terrorism, but yet the precise points of pertinence remain largely unclear. My central argument would dwell upon whether the International Humanitarian Law or the Law of War would be effective in preventing this newest form of terrorism or not.