The Art Of War

1999-04-09

The Web is changing the world, in peace and, so it would seem, in war. All sides of the conflict, plus external agencies, are using the internet more than ever to aid them in their tasks. If the rumours are true, for example, systematic hacking of both military and civilian sites is becoming expected as a weapon of war. At the same time, as in Rwanda, relief agencies are reported to be using bulletin boards to help reunite refugee families. Donations to such agencies are now accepted online. News agencies are broadcasting up to the minute information, in a range of formats and languages, to a global audience. As with all tools, the internet cuts both ways.

(First published 9 April 1999)