Understanding Cyber Collateral Damage

INTRODUCTION In conventional (kinetic) U.S. warfare, there exists a standard methodology for identifying and assessing collateral damage (i.e. accidental damage to civilian targets). Indeed, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) relies on a governing document that defines the policy regarding unlawful military targets (no-strike targets), and methods for estimating collateral damage from kinetic military operations. The definitions in this document are clear, and the harms against which it aims to protect are tangible because they relate to persons and property. The munitions in the military’s arsenal are defined and well-known, and their properties – blast radius, amount of force delivered, and the like – are well understood. While accidents of course do occur, the anticipated effects of a kinetic operation (collateral or otherwise), are generally straightforward to anticipate, assess, and manage.