01413nas a2200121   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042100001900054245010100073856022100174520088200395022001401277       2012                            d  c2012-061 aCordula Droege00aGet off my cloud: cyber warfare, international humanitarian law, and the protection of civilians  uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-review-of-the-red-cross/article/abs/get-off-my-cloud-cyber-warfare-international-humanitarian-law-and-the-protection-of-civilians/72114EF6E71757FAB2B37E7DE918B2BB3 aThe potential humanitarian impact of some cyber operations on the civilian population is enormous. It is therefore important to discuss the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) that govern such operations because one of the main objectives of this body of law is to protect the civilian population from the effects of warfare. This article seeks to address some of the questions that arise when applying IHL – a body of law that was drafted with traditional kinetic warfare in mind – to cyber technology. The first question is: when is cyber war really war in the sense of ‘armed conflict’? After discussing this question, the article goes on to look at some of the most important rules of IHL governing the conduct of hostilities and the interpretation in the cyber realm of those rules, namely the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.   a1816-3831