Why are lasers banned in war?

Lasers, particularly blinding lasers, are banned in warfare under international law due to the potential for severe and irreversible harm they can cause to individuals, particularly the eyes, and the associated ethical concerns about the use of such technology in conflict. The ban is primarily governed by the 1995 Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons), which was adopted by the United Nations. Here are the key reasons why lasers are banned or heavily regulated in warfare:

1. Blinding and Permanent Harm

• Blinding as a Result of Laser Weapons: Lasers designed to blind an enemy are banned because they cause severe, often permanent, damage to a person’s eyes. Even low-powered lasers can permanently damage the retina and result in blindness, while high-powered lasers can cause instant and irreversible vision loss.

• International Law on Blinding: Under Protocol IV of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, blinding lasers are specifically prohibited. This protocol, which entered into force in 1998, makes it illegal to use laser weapons that are specifically intended to cause permanent blindness to a person. While there is some leeway for lasers used for non-blinding purposes, the core issue is the intent and effect of lasers used in conflict.

2. Ethical and Humanitarian Concerns

• Humanitarian Impact: The use of lasers to permanently blind individuals on the battlefield is considered highly unethical because it causes disabling injuries that have lifelong consequences. A soldier who is blinded is not only incapacitated during the conflict but will also suffer from a loss of vision for the rest of their life. This creates an immense burden on the individual, both physically and psychologically, and undermines their basic human dignity.

• Disproportionate Suffering: International humanitarian law seeks to limit the suffering caused by armed conflict, and the use of weapons like blinding lasers is seen as disproportionately cruel. These weapons cause unnecessary suffering without contributing to military objectives like neutralizing a target or achieving a tactical advantage.

3. The Precise Nature of Lasers and the Risk of Escalation

• High-Precision Targeting: Lasers can be highly precise, which makes them ideal for blinding specific targets, such as soldiers or civilians. The precision of lasers can make them very effective in targeting vital areas, such as the eyes. This high degree of accuracy is a double-edged sword, as it means lasers could be used to inflict damage in a way that is difficult to control or predict, especially when used against civilian populations or in situations where combatants are not clearly distinguishable from non-combatants.

• Risk of Escalation: The potential for using lasers to incapacitate people or render them useless in combat situations could lead to an escalation in the use of non-lethal but highly debilitating weapons. This escalation can make war even more brutal and difficult to regulate, as the rules around the treatment of prisoners or the use of force become blurred.

4. Legal Framework: The 1995 Protocol

• Protocol IV: The 1995 Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons specifically prohibits the use of any laser weapon designed to cause permanent blindness in both international and non-international armed conflicts. While the use of lasers for other purposes (such as targeting or illumination) is not outright banned, the intentional use of lasers to blind is prohibited.

• Exemptions and Loopholes: The protocol does allow for lasers used in certain situations, such as for targeting, rangefinding, or illumination (for example, laser-guided weapons). However, these applications do not intend to cause harm to the eyes. Laser designators used in guided munitions are not considered banned because they are not designed to blind individuals.

5. The Potential for Misuse and Development of New Weapons

• New Laser Technology: Advances in directed energy weapons (DEWs), which include lasers, have raised concerns about their potential for misuse in modern warfare. While lasers are not inherently banned for all uses, their potential for being turned into blinding or debilitating weapons makes them a focus of ethical and legal scrutiny.

• Non-lethal but Dangerous: Lasers are sometimes considered non-lethal weapons because they can be used to temporarily incapacitate or disorient a target, rather than causing death. However, when used improperly or excessively, these weapons could still cause long-term harm. For example, while flash blindness from a bright laser could temporarily disable a person, repeated exposure or higher-powered lasers could cause permanent damage, making these types of lasers especially dangerous and unethical in warfare.

6. Other Legal Concerns

• Impact on Civilians: The widespread use of blinding lasers in war could pose significant risks to civilians. While combatants might expect to be engaged in warfare, civilians caught in the crossfire might suffer from blindness or other permanent injuries, leading to a long-term humanitarian crisis. Using lasers in this way could be considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians from unnecessary harm.

• International Scrutiny: The international community views the use of blinding weapons as a violation of the laws of armed conflict and a breach of humanitarian law. Any state using such weapons risks severe international condemnation and potential sanctions.

Conclusion: Why Lasers Are Banned in War

Lasers, especially blinding laser weapons, are banned in warfare because they inflict disabling injuries that cause severe and permanent harm, particularly to the eyes. The ethical and humanitarian concerns around causing suffering in this manner have led to international regulations, such as the 1995 Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons, which prohibits their use. The ban exists to uphold the principles of human dignity, proportionality, and minimizing unnecessary suffering in armed conflicts. While lasers can be used for purposes like targeting or illumination, their use in warfare is strictly regulated to prevent abuse and protect both military personnel and civilians.