EasyChair Preprint № 1809 Disinformation in the Cyber Domain: Detection, Impact, and Counter-Strategies Ritu Gill, Judith van de Kuijt, Magnus Rossell and Ronnie Johansson EasyChair preprints are intended for rapid dissemination of research results and are integrated with the rest of EasyChair. October 31, 2019 24th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium ‘Managing Cyber Risk to Mission’ Disinformation in the Cyber Domain: Detection, Impact, and Counter-Strategies1 Ritu Gill, PhD Judith van de Kuijt, MA Defence R&D Canada Netherlands Organization-Applied Scientific Research
[email protected] [email protected] Magnus Rosell, PhD Ronnie Johannson, PhD Swedish Defence Research Agency Swedish Defence Research Agency
[email protected] [email protected] Abstract The authors examined disinformation via social media and its impact on target audiences by conducting interviews with Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Netherlands Army subject matter experts. Given the pervasiveness and effectiveness of disinformation employed by adversaries, particularly during major national events such as elections, the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, and the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, this study assessed several aspects of disinformation including i) how target audiences are vulnerable to disinformation, ii) which activities are affected by disinformation, iii) what are the indicators of disinformation, and iv) how to foster resilience to disinformation in the military and society. Qualitative analyses of results indicated that in order to effectively counter disinformation the focus needs to be on identifying the military’s core strategic narrative and reinforcing the larger narrative in all communications rather than continuously allocating valuable resources to actively refute all disinformation.