Psyops and Perception Management

CSCE Farkas2 Perception Management Information operations that aim to affect perception of others to influence – Emotions – Reasoning – Decisions – Actions Related to Psychological Operations Influence behavior by affecting human Psyche (fear, desire, logic, etc.)

Injecting Content into Target’s Information Space Targeted population Communication medium – Any medium that can be exploited – Face-to-face, print, telecommunication, internet, etc. – Real time, broad audience (television, video, etc.) CSCE Farkas3

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7 Covert 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)

CSCE Farkas8 Covert 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, e/Radio_Liberty e/Radio_Liberty

CSCE Farkas9 Perception of a Foreign Government Goal: change foreign government’s policy to support offense’s political interest Influence – Foreign government’s perception – Perceptions of elements of foreign society

CSCE Farkas10 Agents of Influence Influence directly government policy Data collection is not necessary Persuade colleagues to adopt certain policies E.g., government officials – s: Soviet intelligence agents working for U.S. government (Harry Dexter White – Assistant Secretary of the Dept. of Treasury), intelligence/csi-publications/csi- studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/harry_dexter_8.htm l intelligence/csi-publications/csi- studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/harry_dexter_8.htm l

CSCE Farkas11 Agent 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

CSCE Farkas12 Use of Information and Disinformation 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”

CSCE Farkas13 Perception of Foreign Society Hard to measure Cumulative effect over long period of time Agents of Influence – Interact with public – journalists, TV commentator, etc. – Prominent person – political figure, aid organization, etc. Culture

CSCE Farkas14 Unattributed Propaganda “Black” propaganda: origin is concealed Disseminating opinions, information or misinformation via media Government may not be directly associated with materials – Increase believability – Government may not want to be associated with certain opinions

CSCE Farkas15 Unattributed 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 CIA Planting stories in independent news media

Global vs. Local Propaganda US WW I. posters, US WW II posters, War-II-Propaganda-Vintage-Art-Posters_c50710_.htmhttp:// War-II-Propaganda-Vintage-Art-Posters_c50710_.htm Chinese posters, Cultural Revolution, CSCE Farkas16

CSCE Farkas17 Offensive Operations Information Space Communication Medium: any (TV, radio, Internet, Web sites, , news groups, etc.) Target: individuals, groups, nations, World

CSCE Farkas18 Internet Global Access – mass audiences Easy to set up Web sites Low cost (compare with broadcasting radio, TV, etc.) “great equalizer” Authority over Internet?

CSCE Farkas19 Tools 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)

CSCE Farkas20 Psyops Affect human psyche – Goal: influence behavior – Means: fear, desire, logic, etc.

CSCE Farkas21 From:

CSCE Farkas22 Lies 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.)

CSCE Farkas23 Distortion Distort information Conscious/Unconscious Important elements ignored, down played Insignificant elements made to appear important Digital media: – Web page metatags: hidden data

CSCE Farkas24 Fabrication Fake information Must seem legitimate Goal: influence decision/activities of enemy or competition, financial gain, popularity, etc. Can be very effective Must know target Errors and intentional fabrications

CSCE Farkas25 Hoaxes Fabrications to – Amuse – Create fear – Discredit/damage Digital media: – Easy to send hoax mail or post information – Virus hoaxes

CSCE Farkas26 Social Engineering Trick people into doing something they would not do if the truth is known. Means: – Impersonating – Threatening – Pretend position/relationship/urgency/etc.

CSCE Farkas27 Denouncement 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

CSCE Farkas28 Harassment Targets opponent directly Unwanted, threatening messages Communication: in person, via medium Examples: – Physical threat – Hate mails – Sexual harassment

CSCE Farkas29 Advertising Scam: cone artists lure customers into scam – Fake prizes, telemarketing, etc. – Internet: easy solicitations – junk , chat room, newsgroups, Web site, etc. Spam: junk – Time consuming: read/process/delete – Unwanted/useless/harmful data

CSCE Farkas30 United 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