The Challenge of New and Emerging Information Operations
Abstract
Information operations as defined in Joint Publication 3-13 of the Joint Staff (1998) are aimed at influencing the information and information systems of an adversary and defending one's own information and information systems. Such operations require the continuous and close integration of offensive and defensive activities; the design, integration, and interaction of C2 procedures with supporting intelligence; and may involve public and civil affairs-related actions. Offensive IO involve the use of supporting information and intelligence capabilities and assets to influence adversarial decision-makers and to achieve specific objectives. Defensive IO are aimed at protecting and defending friendly information assets through information assurance, operations security, physical security, counter-deception, and electronic warfare. IO in support of civil-military interactions is becoming increasingly more important as non-kinetic courses-of-action are required. Incorporating IO into military operations up until now has been extremely difficult due to the lack of doctrine and operational or technological support. However, Joint Publication 3-13 has addressed the doctrinal requirements while innovative operational sites such as the Army's INSCOM Information Dominance Center (IDC) are addressing the operational and technological needs. The IDC serves as a model for the DoD and a proposed virtual hearing room for Congress. As the IDC and its supporting technologies mature, individuals will be able to freely enter, navigate, plan, and execute operations within Perceptual and Knowledge Landscapes. This capability begins the transition from Information Dominance to Knowledge Dominance. The IDC is instantiating such entities as smart rooms, avatars, square pixel displays, polymorphic views, and other technologies for directly interacting in virtual domains. This will take us to the next paradigm of human-machine interaction within the multi-dimensional spaces required for IO.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA468421
Entities
People
- Alexander E. Woodcock
- James E. Heath