If you engage in hacking against the enemy while in Ukraine, is there a punishment?

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has published rules for civilian hackers involved in conflicts. The new rules include a ban on attacks on hospitals, the uncontrolled spread of hacking tools and threats that terrorize the civilian population.

The new rules are as follows:

• Do not direct cyber attacks on civilian objects.

• Do not use malware or other methods that spread automatically and harm military and civilian targets indiscriminately.

• When planning a cyber attack on a military target, every effort should be made to avoid or minimize the impact of the operation on civilians.

• Not to conduct any cyber operations against medical and humanitarian facilities.

• Not to carry out any cyber-attacks on objects necessary for the survival of the population or those that can release dangerous forces.

• Do not threaten violence to spread terror among the civilian population.

• Do not incite violations of international humanitarian law.

• Follow these rules even if the enemy does not.

The ICRC also calls on governments to curb hacking and enforce laws.

The war in Ukraine has blurred the lines between civilian and military hacking attacks, as the government creates and encourages civilian groups such as the Ukrainian IT Army to attack Russian targets.