The Electronic Counterinsurgency: Enabling Virtual Resistance Networks in the Megacity
Abstract
A U.S. joint military/interagency task force can identify, enable, and protect electronic social networks in a megacity environment to provide both intelligence and information operations (IO) advantage. A JIATF can take advantage of the megacitys connectivity, global links, and density to support layered defenses for these virtual resistance networks (VRN) in the face of coercion by non-state armed groups. It will be impossible to isolate megacities of the future because of three qualities: their increased electronic connectivity, globalized social and economic links, and high population and commercial density. Growing penetration of cellular phones, Internet, and social media use means there are new opportunities to gather information on dense, rapidly changing urban environments. But violent non-state actors can create zones of silence by targeting online activists, discouraging local resistance and reporting. The paper develops the proposed VRN enable/protect operating concept, which seeks to leverage the advantages of large-scale open-source information networks to combat non-stated armed groups while minimizing security risks to local VRN participants. A JIATF can take advantage of the megacitys connectivity, global links, and density to support layered defenses for VRNs. This concept will likely blur the line between intelligence collection, information operations, and civilian security.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1176006
Entities
People
- Colin R. Relihan
Organizations
- Marine Corps University