Post on 28-Dec-2015
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Perception ManagementPerception Management
Information operations that aim to affect perception of others to influence– Emotions– Reasoning– Decisions– Actions
Related to Psychological OperationsInfluence behavior by affecting human Psyche (fear, desire, logic, etc.)
Injecting Content into Target’s Injecting Content into Target’s Information SpaceInformation Space
Targeted populationCommunication medium
– Any medium that can be exploited– Face-to-face, print, telecommunication,
internet, etc.– Real time, broad audience (television, video,
etc.)
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Covert ActionCovert Action
“…attempt by one government to pursue its foreign policy objectives by conducting some secret activity to influence the behavior of a foreign government or political, military, economic, or societal events and circumstances in a foreign country.”
(Silent Warfare)
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CovertCovert
Total secrecy: details or even the existence of activities are confidential
Unaccounted: actions are public knowledge but government involvement is concealed
Goal: direct furthering of national foreign policy objectives
Wide range of activities: – Radio Free Europe,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe/Radio_Liberty
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Perception of a Foreign Perception of a Foreign GovernmentGovernment
Goal: change foreign government’s policy to support offense’s political interest
Influence– Foreign government’s perception– Perceptions of elements of foreign society
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Agents of InfluenceAgents of Influence Influence directly government policy Data collection is not necessary Persuade colleagues to adopt certain policies E.g., government officials
– 1930-40s: Soviet intelligence agents working for U.S. government (Harry Dexter White – Assistant Secretary of the Dept. of Treasury), https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/harry_dexter_8.html
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Agent of InfluenceAgent of Influence
Trusted contact – willing to work for a foreign government, no detailed instructions, not paid
Controlled agent – receives precise instructions, usually paid
Manipulated agent – unaware of serving a foreign government
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Use of Information and Use of Information and DisinformationDisinformation
Providing information (or misinformation)– Influence a desired action– E.g., revealing identities of opponents’ intelligence
agents Origin of information Sender of information Misinformation
– Plausible – “silent forgery”– “deception operation”
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Perception of Foreign SocietyPerception of Foreign Society
Hard to measureCumulative effect over long period of timeAgents of Influence
– Interact with public – journalists, TV commentator, etc.
– Prominent person – political figure, aid organization, etc.
Culture
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Unattributed PropagandaUnattributed Propaganda
“Black” propaganda: origin is concealedDisseminating opinions, information or
misinformation via mediaGovernment may not be directly associated
with materials– Increase believability– Government may not want to be associated
with certain opinions
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Unattributed PropagandaUnattributed Propaganda
“Gray” propaganda: origin not public knowledge
E.g., Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty– Information about targets’ own countries– Information about the West– Set up as private U.S. organizations but were
run by CIAPlanting stories in independent news media
Global vs. Local PropagandaGlobal vs. Local Propaganda
US WW I. posters, http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/usa.htm
US WW II posters, http://www.allposters.com/-st/World-War-II-Propaganda-Vintage-Art-Posters_c50710_.htm
Chinese posters, Cultural Revolution, http://chineseposters.net/gallery/theme-07.php
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Offensive OperationsOffensive Operations
Information SpaceCommunication Medium: any (TV, radio,
Internet, Web sites, e-mail, news groups, etc.)
Target: individuals, groups, nations, World
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InternetInternet
Global Access – mass audiencesEasy to set up Web sitesLow cost (compare with broadcasting
radio, TV, etc.)“great equalizer”Authority over Internet?
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Tools for Perception ManagementTools for Perception Management
In War and Anti-War by Alvin and Heidi Toffler:
1. Atrocity accusations (true or false)
2. Hyperbolic inflation of stakes
3. Demonization and/or dehumanization of enemy
4. Polarization (if you are not with me, you are against me)
5. Claim of divine sanction
6. Meta-propaganda (discredit opponent’s propaganda)
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PsyopsPsyops
Affect human psyche– Goal: influence behavior– Means: fear, desire, logic, etc.
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Lies and DistortionsLies and Distortions Widely used Destroys the integrity of the carrying media Cultural Differences? Ethical/unethical? Bad/Useful? Digital media
– Fabrication, spoofed originator, modification, etc. – Easy to carry out– Trust in observation (senses: see, hear, touch, taste,
etc.)
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DistortionDistortion
Distort informationConscious/UnconsciousImportant elements ignored, down playedInsignificant elements made to appear
importantDigital media:
– Web page metatags: hidden data
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FabricationFabrication
Fake informationMust seem legitimateGoal: influence decision/activities of enemy
or competition, financial gain, popularity, etc.
Can be very effectiveMust know targetErrors and intentional fabrications
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HoaxesHoaxes
Fabrications to – Amuse– Create fear– Discredit/damage
Digital media: – Easy to send hoax mail or post information– Virus hoaxes
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Social EngineeringSocial Engineering
Trick people into doing something they would not do if the truth is known.
Means:– Impersonating – Threatening– Pretend position/relationship/urgency/etc.
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DenouncementDenouncement
Discredit, defame, demonize, or dehumanize an opponent
Goal: gain of support for the entity performing the denouncement and loss for the adversary
Military/politics/economy/personal Hate groups Conspiracy theory Defamation: damage the reputation and good
name of another
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HarassmentHarassment
Targets opponent directlyUnwanted, threatening messagesCommunication: in person, via mediumExamples:
– Physical threat– Hate mails– Sexual harassment
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AdvertisingAdvertising
Scam: cone artists lure customers into scam– Fake prizes, telemarketing, etc.– Internet: easy solicitations – junk e-mail, chat
room, newsgroups, Web site, etc.
Spam: junk e-mail – Time consuming: read/process/delete– Unwanted/useless/harmful data
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United State RestrictionsUnited State Restrictions
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: freedom of speech and press– Exception: child pornography, offensive and harmful
speech, obscene material, etc.– Materials depicting violence ?
1996: Communications Decency Act (US congress)– Indecent material – restricting access to minors– Controversial – civil liberties groups
1997: Supreme Court ruled that CDA sections 223 and 224 abridged First Amendment rights