The Casualty of Truth
Abstract
Adapting Soviet techniques of subversion and destabilization, todays Russian government conducts consistent, sophisticated information warfare against its adversaries. These information campaigns are successful because the Kremlin has created a mass-media ecosystem where propaganda and disinformation masquerade as legitimate news, obfuscate facts, and erode faith in objective reporting. This complex, adaptive media system consists of state-run media outlets, cyber troops, and online bots. Three focus areas: 1.) Moscows current information warfare benefits from a century of Soviet and Tsarist leaders honing the art and science of propaganda, political warfare, and disinformation. 2.) State-run media, RT and Sputnik, produce news coverage that portray Western nations in decline, the US government as corrupt, and sow discord among Russias perceived enemies. 3.) Russia employs cyber troops to conduct influence operations online to silence Kremlin critics, distract audiences with outlandish stories, and pollute the internet with fake content that makes discovering truth difficult. Russias manipulation of traditional and social media floods the information environment with junk and conspiracy theories, defames Western leaders, and diminishes public trust in the media. The truth is being discredited, blurred, and drowned while facts are rearranged to create alternate realities that legitimize Kremlin actions on the domestic and international stages.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 19, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1177206
Entities
People
- Craig W Ii Thomas
Organizations
- Marine Corps University