Humanitarianism in the Age of Cyber-warfare: Towards the Principled and Secure Use of Information in Humanitarian Emergencies

Following on "Humanitarianism in the Network Age", this new paper looks at how the expanding use of information and communication technologies, from smart phones to biometric ID systems, is improving the effectiveness of humanitarian response, but also creating new risks to the privacy and security of affected communities. The standards for protecting that information and ensuring that it is being used responsibly have not kept pace with advances in technology. The report outlines the legal, ethical and security implications for humanitarian organisations, and emphasises the need for standards and codes of conduct for the responsible use of information and to invest in risk analysis and information security, while continuing to prioritise transparency and data-driven response.