Red Cross exhibition educates visitors on digital warfare and risks

Since 2019, the ICRC has been hosting and organizing the “Digital Dilemmas” exhibition, which presents messages on the consequences of digital risks.

Installation view of the “Digital Dilemmas — Civilians a+ Heart,” exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul [INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS]

Defending basic human rights and providing protection in warfare has been one of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) main missions for the past 160 years.

But in recent years, the impact of digital technology in crisis situations has escalated, meaning that proper awareness is becoming increasingly crucial.

Since 2019, the ICRC has been hosting and organizing the “Digital Dilemmas” exhibition, which presents messages on the consequences of digital risks. It has traveled to some 40 regions all over the world, including Geneva, Dubai, Luxembourg, Paris, San Francisco and now, Seoul.

Titled “Digital Dilemmas — Civilians a+ Heart,” the exhibition, co-organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea, is currently on view at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul. It also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Geneva Conventions.

The central light tower structure in the “Digital Dilemmas — Civilians a+ Heart,” exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul [INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS]

The purpose is to convey the dangers of digital technology in a straightforward and tangible way so the audience can form a common understanding. It also aims to ease the creation of regulations through awareness.

“If I speak about torture, hunger, bombing — even if you have not lived through it, you feel it and you know what it is,” said Philippe Stoll, senior techplomacy delegate at the ICRC. “But if I speak about cyberattacks, it’s not so concrete.”

A hands-on computer game developed by the ICRC is available to try out at the exhibition and also online. Users can choose among nine different topics that each portray a related scenario, leading up to the aftermath.

One scenario shows a deepfake video of a soldier posing as a news reporter and how such instances can be abused to “sow confusion, exacerbate tensions and further fuel conflict” in any crisis.

Other topics deal with disinformation, data protection, surveillance and biometrics. The game is also available in Korean.

The “Data Detox Bar” section in the “Digital Dilemmas — Civilians a+ Heart,” exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul [INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS]

The exhibition features photographs as well as the ICRC’s proposals on digital protection. An example in motion is a digital emblem, which will be used in cyberspace to indicate which servers, data and websites are to be protected during an armed conflict.

“Similarly, a flag will not stop a bomb or a bullet, so this will not stop hacking,” Stoll said. “But at least it will say this is a Red Cross server; don’t attack it.”

To help ease worries regarding the bleak reality of the “digital dilemma,“ the “Data Detox Bar” section toward the end of the exhibition gives visitors easily applicable tips and advice on making wise choices in the digital world, particularly on social media.

“Digital Dilemmas — Civilians a+ Heart” ends Nov. 16. The War Memorial of Korea is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibition is free.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]