Weaponizing Words: Using Technology to Proliferate Information Warfare
By Dr. Craig Douglas Albert, Samantha Mullaney, Lt. Col. Joseph Huitt, Dr. Lance Y. Hunter, and Lydia Snider
| December 05, 2023
The United States risks losing its information advantage over its near-peer compet-itors, specifically China. One reason behind this possibility is that the U.S. lacks a coherent doctrine of information warfare, which has put the U.S. at a disadvantage. Considering the Russian interference in elections of several North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) states and allies, including Ukraine, Germany, and the United States, most stunningly in the 2016 presidential election, this article addresses the question: What is to be done? Before delving into possible solutions, the exact nature of the complex problem must be explored. The purpose of this article is to investigate the ways the U.S. could improve in information warfare, specifically against one of its top near-peer competitors, China. First, this article summarizes how China com¬pares with the U.S. concerning information warfare and influence opera¬tions. Second, it delves into some of the definitional chaos in which the U.S. is mired. Thirdly, the article illustrates the doctrinal and data policies of the U.S. Department of Defense. Finally, it concludes with policy recommendations.
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