1. Psyops and Perception Management

2. Reading List This class and next: Denning Chapters 5, 6
A review of FBI Security Programs, (Intro, conclusion)
Insider threat to security may be harder to detect, experts say,
Treason 101,
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3. Project
Project proposal: 2-3 pages, double spaced, 11 pt. Turn in hard copy of the proposal in class.
Main area of the proposed project
Goal of the project and importance of the goal
Initial list of relevant materials
Your qualification for making the project successful
The aim of the research paper is that you gain understanding of a specific topic in Information Warfare, and identify future directions of the field. Try to answer questions like “Are the current legislations sufficient to address IW topic?”, “How national and international law and policy deals with topic …?”, “Is the current technology used effectively to address IW problem …?”, etc.
Be careful not to try to do too much, which will result in lower quality work. Aim for correctness, and understanding of the chosen topic.
Due date: February 16, 2009
Groups
Web site
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4. Homework 2 Perception Management
Present: Explain how perception management techniques have changed during the last 30 years due to IT revolution. Pick a specific area, e.g., deception, propaganda, etc., to explain new methods.
Past: Describe 1 techniques of perception management used by B. Obama and J. McCain during the presidential campaign. Write a hypothetical scenario how Theodore Roosevelt (President ) may have attempted to reach the same objective.
Future: Analyze a future scenarios of perception management and IT development.
Due: February 16, 2009
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5. Perception Management
Information operations that aim to affect perception of others to influence
Emotions
Reasoning
Decisions
Actions
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6. 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)
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7. Covert
Total secrecy: details or even the existence of activities are confidential
Unaccounted; actions are public knowledge, government involvement is concealed
Goal: direct furthering of national foreign policy objectives
Wide range of activities:
Today’s topic: perception management
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8. 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
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9. 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)
1976: in France Pierre-Charles Pathe founded Synthese (political newsletter) : convicted for espionage and being an agent of influence.
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10. 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
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11. 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”
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12. Perception of Foreign Society
Hard to measure
Cumulative effect over long period of time
Agents of Influence
Reach public – journalists, TV commentator, etc.
Prominent person – political figure, aid organization, etc.
Culture
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. Offensive Operations Information Space
Communication Medium: any (TV, radio, Internet, Web sites, , news groups, etc.)
Target: individuals, groups, nations, World
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16. Internet Global Access – mass audiences Easy to set up Web sites
Low cost (compare with broadcasting radio, TV, etc.)
“great equalizer”
Authority over Internet?
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17. Tools for Perception Management
In War and Anti-War by Alvin and Heidi Toffler:
Atrocity accusations
Hyperbolic inflations
Demonization and/or dehumanization
Polarization
Claim of divine sanction
Meta-propaganda
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18. Psyops Affect human psyche Goal: influence behavior
Means: fear, desire, logic, etc.
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19. Lies and Distortions Widely used
Destroys the integrity of the carrying media
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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20. Distortion Distort information Conscious/Unconscious
Important elements ignored, down played
Insignificant elements made to appear important
Digital media:
Web page metatags: hidden data
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21. 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
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22. Hoaxes Fabrications to Digital media: Amuse Create fear
Discredit/damage
Digital media:
Easy to send hoax mail or post information
Virus hoaxes
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23. Social 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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24. 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
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25. Harassment Targets opponent directly Unwanted, threatening messages
Communication: in person, via medium
Examples:
Physical threat
Hate mails
Sexual harassment
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26. 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
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27. Censorship Offensive: denies population access to certain materials
Defensive: protect society from materials that would undermine its culture or governance
Internet: makes censorship difficult
Children Internet Protection Act, 2000 ( , )
Free speech online
Electronic Frontier Foundation
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28. 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
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