by Lei Zhang and Hui Chen
Abstract: Currently, medical institutions and humanitarian organizations (MIHO) face severe digital threats in both peacetime and armed conflicts. To strengthen the identification and protection of MIHO’s digital assets, data, and services, the ICRC is actively promoting the digitization of distinctive emblems (i.e., “digital emblems”). Compared to traditional distinctive emblems, “digital emblems” have unique advantages in medium, operability, scalability, time, and geographical constraints. At the practical level, “digital emblems” also bring certain transformative and uncertain factors. In terms of the formulation of rules related to “digital emblems”, emphasis should be placed on shaping the legal protection of MIHO in peacetime and clarifying the international responsibilities of cyber militias and civilian hackers during armed conflicts.
Keywords: digital emblem, distinctive emblem, international humanitarian law, international law in cyberspace, digital transformation.
