The Use of Signals Intelligence in Offensive Cyberspace Operations: An Anticipatory Ethical Analysis

摘要

This paper discusses the anticipatory ethical and social issues associated with the use of signals intelligence in support of offensive cyberspace operations. Real time raw signals intelligence analytics is quickly becoming an imperative to defending forward in cyberspace (that is, to predict, detect, and deter cyber threats before they reach their intended targets). Signals intelligence analytics in support of offensive cyberspace operations requires, however, the development and integration of a wide variety of new artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies capable of handling data across networks and at different levels of classification. In this article we pose that understanding how signals intelligence collection and processing technologies will be developed, how they will work, and how they will transform the future of offensive cyberspace operations are anticipatory ethical considerations that need further attention by multiple stakeholders--to include military/government, industry and academia involved in development of said technologies--of NATO member states. These stakeholders will need to address an increasing number of anticipatory ethical dillemmas, especially given the sensitivities and complex social ramifications of government entities employing signals intelligence analytics in support of offensive cyberspace operations.