Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence?
Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are being tested and adopted at a significant rate in humanitarian emergency response. However, the crossing of physical, biological, and cyber domains that characterises these technologies threatens the independence of humanitarian organisation...
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
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2018
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/89619 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/45007 |
| _version_ | 1826117466496958464 |
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| author | Searle, Martin Stanley |
| author2 | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies |
| author_facet | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Searle, Martin Stanley |
| author_sort | Searle, Martin Stanley |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are being tested and adopted at a significant rate in humanitarian emergency response. However, the crossing of physical, biological, and cyber domains that characterises these technologies threatens the independence of humanitarian organisations. This is occurring in an environment in which the value and purpose of independence is already seriously questioned, both in practice, and in principle. This paper argues that the loss of independence stems from two related trends. First, several 4IR technologies are improving the capacity of humanitarian organisations to gather, synthesise, and analyse data, resulting in the production of information of increasingly strategic, political or military value. Second, the cyber component of these technologies simultaneously renders that information more vulnerable to unauthorised access by third parties with relevant political, military or economic agendas. This parallels the “capability/ vulnerability paradox” identified in literature discussing cybersecurity in relation to the military or so-called “smart cities”. In conflict and disaster settings, this paradox increases the likelihood of humanitarian actors functioning as appendages of other organisations. This loss of independence potentially has operational implications relating to access, and material impact on the ongoing debate around the importance of independence in humanitarian work. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T04:28:04Z |
| format | Working Paper |
| id | ntu-10356/89619 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T04:28:04Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/896192020-11-01T08:43:41Z Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? Searle, Martin Stanley S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Non-Traditional Security Global Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are being tested and adopted at a significant rate in humanitarian emergency response. However, the crossing of physical, biological, and cyber domains that characterises these technologies threatens the independence of humanitarian organisations. This is occurring in an environment in which the value and purpose of independence is already seriously questioned, both in practice, and in principle. This paper argues that the loss of independence stems from two related trends. First, several 4IR technologies are improving the capacity of humanitarian organisations to gather, synthesise, and analyse data, resulting in the production of information of increasingly strategic, political or military value. Second, the cyber component of these technologies simultaneously renders that information more vulnerable to unauthorised access by third parties with relevant political, military or economic agendas. This parallels the “capability/ vulnerability paradox” identified in literature discussing cybersecurity in relation to the military or so-called “smart cities”. In conflict and disaster settings, this paradox increases the likelihood of humanitarian actors functioning as appendages of other organisations. This loss of independence potentially has operational implications relating to access, and material impact on the ongoing debate around the importance of independence in humanitarian work. 2018-06-13T01:39:51Z 2019-12-06T17:29:42Z 2018-06-13T01:39:51Z 2019-12-06T17:29:42Z 2018 Working Paper Searle, M. S. (2018). Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? (RSIS Working Paper, No. 315). Singapore: Nanyang Technological University. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/89619 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/45007 en RSIS Working Papers, 315-18 Nanyang Technological University 24 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | Non-Traditional Security Global Searle, Martin Stanley Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? |
| title | Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? |
| title_full | Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? |
| title_fullStr | Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? |
| title_short | Is use of cyber-based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence? |
| title_sort | is use of cyber based technology in humanitarian operations leading to the reduction of humanitarian independence |
| topic | Non-Traditional Security Global |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/89619 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/45007 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT searlemartinstanley isuseofcyberbasedtechnologyinhumanitarianoperationsleadingtothereductionofhumanitarianindependence |