Humanitarian Cyber Operations Rapid Response to Crimes against Humanity Utilizing Offensive Cyber Ability Jan Kallberg M ilitary cyber capacity, built to be a part of military operations, can be utilized for humanitarian operations utilizing the legal framework of responsibility to protect. The responsibility to protect doctrine will allow concerned states to interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign nations that jeopardize the welfare of its citizenry, and the humanitarian operations are not considered acts of war. In principle, cyber can be utilized to protect humanity in the Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MTS.2016.2599209 Date of publication: 7 September 2016 september 2016 ∕ same way as military transportation ships can transport aid to a humanitarian catastrophe. The growing digital footprint in repressive regimes creates an opportunity for early prevention and interception against the perpetration of atrocities by utilizing the United Nations codified principle of "responsibility to protect" as a justification for the world community, or states that decide to act, to launch humanitarian cyber operations. The principle of "responsibility to protect" would allow foreign interference in domestic affairs without triggering an act of war. Historically atrocities have been identified by the world community up to years after these crimes against humanity were perpetrated. Acquired offensive cyber operations ability can be utilized as a rapid response to the repressive IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 1932-4529/16©2016IEEE 81