Collateral Deception

Deception is a well-established military tactic. However, existing ethical frameworks primarily address combatants, leaving a gap in guidance for scenarios that implicate civilians. Muhammad Iskandar introduces the Collateral Deception Framework. The framework adapts Ross Bellaby’s Ladder of Escalation to situate the different methods of deception. Two pillars support this framework: a harm-based analytical system structures how harm is classified, described and measured; and principles from Just War Theory and non-military ethics establish the regulatory and normative standards. Integrating the ladder and two supporting pillars offers a framework that can be applied, yet is grounded in established ethical traditions.