The New Nuke

Question: what is a weapon?

Merriam-Webster says that a weapon is something "that is used for fighting or attacking someone of for defending yourself when someone is attacking you." In the era of Vatican II, the Catholic Church was concerned with weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), namely, nuclear weapons. In this era, we have seen the rise of the threat of biological warfare and chemical warfare, with the use of anthrax mail or sarin gas. However, with the boom of the Internet, and the rise of computers, weapons take on the form of 1's and 0's in lines of computer codes. Viruses, trojan horses, and other malware have evolved from personal pests to a matter of national security. We have seen the destructive power of computer experts, who have destroyed centrifuges in Iran and stolen credit card information. Sites such as Wikileaks pose security threats by distributing information, while chatrooms and open forum sites harbor terrorist recruiters and individuals seeking to anonymously cause mayhem with the click of a mouse. While it is a great tool, technology and the Internet are not only a vulnerability, but in the hands of some, a weapon.

We live in a world dependent on technology to power our homes, maintain our economics, and keep life as we know it comfortable and sustainable. Therefore, the possibility of a cyberattack holds serious implications. Military intelligence could be compromised, and in recent years, power grids could be shut down without a single shot being fired. Church teaching on warfare during Vatican II discussed the need for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, which were in the hands of entire nations. How does the Church promote a similar stance in the world of cyberterrorism and cyber warfare? Now, the weapons that could threaten whole countries are not solely in the hands of superpowers, but instead, the laptops and desktops of mere individuals. What kind of action should we take against these people that threaten the world in a novel way? How do we make peace with people that seek to ruin the digital infrastructure of our world on their own terms? How can the Church dialogue with the technologically-savvy terrorists of this world, and those that attempt to guard us from incursions on such attacks on our country?

http://www.ibtimes.com/obama-says-cyberterrorism-countrys-biggest-threat-us-government-assembles-cyber-warriors-1556337