HF SIGNAL 01 - Use Conditions and Core Documents

HF SIGNAL 01 is a humanitarian and technical standard created by the Human Flag initiative to ensure that the act of surrender is recognizable and respected - even by autonomous systems and AI-driven weapons.

It defines visual, thermal, audio, and digital cues as part of a universally accepted surrender signal.

Core Documents

Legal and Moral Foundation

"A person who clearly expresses an intention to surrender shall not be attacked. A person who is defenceless shall be treated with humanity."
- Geneva Conventions, Protocol I, Article 41

This protocol builds upon international humanitarian law. It requires all autonomous lethal systems to pause engagement when a recognized surrender signal is detected and verified.

Important Notice

Operational use of HF SIGNAL 01 - including military, security, or autonomous deployment - is strictly prohibited without a formal agreement with the Human Flag Association. Any unauthorized use will be considered a violation of ethical responsibility and international humanitarian norms.


(c) 2025 Human Flag - Ethical surrender protocol for an automated world.