Information and Communication Technology Companies on the Battlefield: Explanations and Implications

To keep up with the demands and dynamics that the Information Age imposes on their armed forces, states require a solid informational infrastructure to collect intelligence, support decision making processes and to coordinate and execute activities. The war in Ukraine, which is char- acterised by its cyberspace dimension, has seen an influx of non-state actors on the battlefield, including ICT-companies (ICTC), such as Microsoft and Starlink. The examples of ICTC involvement in the war in Ukraine demonstrate the authoritative and there- fore critical informational power position of ICTC in cyberspace, causing the relationship of states vis-à-vis ICTC to be a relationship of dependence by necessity, not of choice. As a consequence, states become vulnerable in their application of informational and military power as strategic instruments. This vulnerability becomes particularly apparent in wartime as a result of insecurities regarding the allegiance or loyalty of ICTC which may endanger the continued application of fighting power. In light of this, it is pivotal for states to gain a deep understanding of the interests and motivations of ICTC to appear at the frontlines of war, as well as those that could lead to the decision to withdraw