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In this episode, Dr Simon McKenzie talks with Dr Eve Massingham about the equirement to take precautions against the effects of attack. This obligation requires the defender to minimise the risk that civilians and civilian objects will be harmed by enemy military operations – such as by locating military bases away from civilian areas, or by clearly marking non-military objects. They discuss how this might work when it comes to digital infrastructure, including the challenges of dual-use technology, and the value of applying IHL principles to new technology.

Dr Eve Massingham is a Senior Research Fellow with the School of Law, The University of Queensland. Eve's current research focuses on the diverse ways in which the law constrains or enables autonomous functions of military platforms, systems and weapons. She is the co-editor of Ensuring Respect for International Humanitarian Law (Routledge, 2020) and she has published a number of book chapters and journal articles in the fields of international humanitarian law and international law, and the use of force.

Further reading:

• ICRC resources on war in cities
• Erik Jensen, 'War in cities: Attackers have rules to follow. What about defenders?', Humanitarian Law and Policy Blog ( 16 March 2017)
• Humanitarian Law and Policy Blog series on avoiding civilian harm during cyber operations