Information Operations and the Law of Perfidy

The Department of Defense DOD Office of General Counsel concluded in an assessment of international law and information operations IO that using computer morphing techniques of an enemy leader to falsely broadcast that an armistice or cease-fire agreement had been signed would be a war crime under the law of perfidy. The law of perfidy prohibits IO that would invite the confidence of the enemy to lead him to believe that he is entitled to or obliged to accord, protection under the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict with the intent to betray that confidence. This standard is flexible, and deception and psychological operations being planned or executed now with IO methods will not be precluded by the General Counsel assessment described above.