Psyops and Perception Management

Psyops and Perception Psyops and Perception ManagementManagement

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Perception ManagementPerception Management

Information operations that aim to affect perception of others to influence– Emotions– Reasoning– Decisions– Actions

Related to Psychological OperationsInfluence behavior by affecting human Psyche (fear, desire, logic, etc.)

Injecting Content into Target’s Injecting Content into Target’s Information SpaceInformation Space

Targeted populationCommunication medium

– Any medium that can be exploited– Face-to-face, print, telecommunication,

internet, etc.– Real time, broad audience (television, video,

etc.)

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Covert ActionCovert Action

“…attempt by one government to pursue its foreign policy objectives by conducting some secret activity to influence the behavior of a foreign government or political, military, economic, or societal events and circumstances in a foreign country.”

(Silent Warfare)

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CovertCovert

Total secrecy: details or even the existence of activities are confidential

Unaccounted: actions are public knowledge but government involvement is concealed

Goal: direct furthering of national foreign policy objectives

Wide range of activities: – Radio Free Europe,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe/Radio_Liberty

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Perception of a Foreign Perception of a Foreign GovernmentGovernment

Goal: change foreign government’s policy to support offense’s political interest

Influence– Foreign government’s perception– Perceptions of elements of foreign society

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Agents of InfluenceAgents of Influence Influence directly government policy Data collection is not necessary Persuade colleagues to adopt certain policies E.g., government officials

– 1930-40s: Soviet intelligence agents working for U.S. government (Harry Dexter White – Assistant Secretary of the Dept. of Treasury), https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no1/html_files/harry_dexter_8.html

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Agent of InfluenceAgent of Influence

Trusted contact – willing to work for a foreign government, no detailed instructions, not paid

Controlled agent – receives precise instructions, usually paid

Manipulated agent – unaware of serving a foreign government

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Use of Information and Use of Information and DisinformationDisinformation

Providing information (or misinformation)– Influence a desired action– E.g., revealing identities of opponents’ intelligence

agents Origin of information Sender of information Misinformation

– Plausible – “silent forgery”– “deception operation”

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Perception of Foreign SocietyPerception of Foreign Society

Hard to measureCumulative effect over long period of timeAgents of Influence

– Interact with public – journalists, TV commentator, etc.

– Prominent person – political figure, aid organization, etc.

Culture


Unattributed PropagandaUnattributed Propaganda

“Black” propaganda: origin is concealedDisseminating opinions, information or

misinformation via mediaGovernment may not be directly associated

with materials– Increase believability– Government may not want to be associated

with certain opinions


Unattributed PropagandaUnattributed Propaganda

“Gray” propaganda: origin not public knowledge

E.g., Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty– Information about targets’ own countries– Information about the West– Set up as private U.S. organizations but were

run by CIAPlanting stories in independent news media

Global vs. Local PropagandaGlobal vs. Local Propaganda

US WW I. posters, http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/usa.htm

US WW II posters, http://www.allposters.com/-st/World-War-II-Propaganda-Vintage-Art-Posters_c50710_.htm

Chinese posters, Cultural Revolution, http://chineseposters.net/gallery/theme-07.php



Offensive OperationsOffensive Operations

Information SpaceCommunication Medium: any (TV, radio,

Internet, Web sites, e-mail, news groups, etc.)

Target: individuals, groups, nations, World


InternetInternet

Global Access – mass audiencesEasy to set up Web sitesLow cost (compare with broadcasting

radio, TV, etc.)“great equalizer”Authority over Internet?


Tools for Perception ManagementTools for Perception Management

In War and Anti-War by Alvin and Heidi Toffler:

1. Atrocity accusations (true or false)

2. Hyperbolic inflation of stakes

3. Demonization and/or dehumanization of enemy

4. Polarization (if you are not with me, you are against me)

5. Claim of divine sanction

6. Meta-propaganda (discredit opponent’s propaganda)


PsyopsPsyops

Affect human psyche– Goal: influence behavior– Means: fear, desire, logic, etc.

CSCE 727 - Farkas 18From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Egri_no_.jpg


Lies and DistortionsLies and Distortions Widely used Destroys the integrity of the carrying media Cultural Differences? Ethical/unethical? Bad/Useful? Digital media

– Fabrication, spoofed originator, modification, etc. – Easy to carry out– Trust in observation (senses: see, hear, touch, taste,

etc.)


DistortionDistortion

Distort informationConscious/UnconsciousImportant elements ignored, down playedInsignificant elements made to appear

importantDigital media:

– Web page metatags: hidden data


FabricationFabrication

Fake informationMust seem legitimateGoal: influence decision/activities of enemy

or competition, financial gain, popularity, etc.

Can be very effectiveMust know targetErrors and intentional fabrications


HoaxesHoaxes

Fabrications to – Amuse– Create fear– Discredit/damage

Digital media: – Easy to send hoax mail or post information– Virus hoaxes


Social EngineeringSocial Engineering

Trick people into doing something they would not do if the truth is known.

Means:– Impersonating – Threatening– Pretend position/relationship/urgency/etc.


DenouncementDenouncement

Discredit, defame, demonize, or dehumanize an opponent

Goal: gain of support for the entity performing the denouncement and loss for the adversary

Military/politics/economy/personal Hate groups Conspiracy theory Defamation: damage the reputation and good

name of another


HarassmentHarassment

Targets opponent directlyUnwanted, threatening messagesCommunication: in person, via mediumExamples:

– Physical threat– Hate mails– Sexual harassment


AdvertisingAdvertising

Scam: cone artists lure customers into scam– Fake prizes, telemarketing, etc.– Internet: easy solicitations – junk e-mail, chat

room, newsgroups, Web site, etc.

Spam: junk e-mail – Time consuming: read/process/delete– Unwanted/useless/harmful data


United State RestrictionsUnited State Restrictions

First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: freedom of speech and press– Exception: child pornography, offensive and harmful

speech, obscene material, etc.– Materials depicting violence ?

1996: Communications Decency Act (US congress)– Indecent material – restricting access to minors– Controversial – civil liberties groups

1997: Supreme Court ruled that CDA sections 223 and 224 abridged First Amendment rights

Documents

Psyops and Perception Management