Big Help or Big Brother: Understanding the Legal Parameters of Domestic Military Operations in the Information Environment
Abstract
The development of digital medias has led to a resurgence of Operations in the Information Environment. Many of the recent incidents of civil unrest were incited and fueled by the distribution of information across medias from both foreign and domestic actors. Essentially, the US faces three interrelated challenges. The US faces malign actors who have weaponized the information environment, the United States Government (USG) lacks a coherent strategy to contest the information environment, in part because the legal roles and authorities for the various organizations for operating in the information environment, and it is not clear, according to domestic and international law, what retribution states can respond with to acts in the information environment. An examination of Operations in the Information Environment to contest and combat disinformation and propaganda from foreign actors designed to influence the US population and exacerbate the ramifications of existing social issues requires an understanding of the legal limitations, and of the tactics of disinformation campaigns. The USG should engage the US citizens in a digital literacy program designed to increase the cognitive ability of its population to recognize disinformation. US Northern Command should lead a joint task force responsible for the dissemination of Strategic Communications contesting disinformation and propaganda, as well as provide the framework for cooperation between government agencies and private corporations in the recognition of disinformation and propaganda campaigns and to assist law enforcement in contesting the campaigns targeting domestic audiences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 28, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1154251
Entities
People
- Benjamin R. Hartman
Organizations
- National Defense University