Drones and Fifth Generation Wars: Humanitarian Implications in the Colombian Conflict

This article analyzes the impact of drones and other disruptive technologies on the Colombian conflict within the fifth-generation warfare (5GW) framework. Examining technologies like surveillance drones, it explores their influence on conflict dynamics, including blurring lines between combatants and civilians, intensifying information warfare, and generating fear. The paper details humanitarian implications such as indiscriminate attacks, privacy loss, forced displacement, and psychological effects. It also addresses technology's role in documenting human rights violations, alongside evidence preservation and ethical challenges. Key 5GW aspects like ambiguous boundaries, information warfare, and asymmetry are analyzed concerning drone use by state and nonstate actors. Ethical dilemmas surrounding remotely piloted and potential autonomous drones are discussed, highlighting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) challenges and the imperative of human control over lethal force. The article concludes with recommendations to strengthen legal frameworks, promote transparency, counter disinformation, and enhance civilian protection, advocating a comprehensive strategy for this era of technological disruption.