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Information Operations

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
The Most Popular RAND Research of 2020
Dec 21, 2020
Here are the RAND research projects that resonated most in 2020, a year unlike any in living memory. Topics include remote learning, election disinformation, income inequality, and more.
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Information Operations
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Russian Propaganda, Domestic Terrorism, America's Electric Grid: RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 16, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on how Americans react to Russian memes on Facebook, the possibility of domestic terrorism during election season, protecting the U.S. electric grid, and more.
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Information Operations
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Election Interference on Twitter, Insulin Prices, Remote Learning: RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 9, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on evidence of interference in the 2020 election on Twitter, U.S. insulin prices compared to those of other countries, how parents can help their kids' education stay on track during the pandemic, and more.
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Information Operations
blog
How Russia Targets U.S. Elections, Black Workers and COVID-19, TikTok: RAND Weekly Recap
Oct 2, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on how Russia targets U.S. elections, Americans' increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic, Black workers and COVID-19, and more.
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Cybercrime
commentary
Insider Threat at Twitter Is a Risk to Everyone
Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung, Ryan Andrew Brown
Aug 7, 2020
The RAND Blog
Three young hackers were charged in the hijacking of dozens of high-profile Twitter accounts. Their tactics point out how vulnerabilities at tech platforms can pose a risk to national security.
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Summer Learning
blog
COVID Learning Loss, Russian Trolls, Artificial Intelligence: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 17, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on helping students recover learning losses, fighting Russian trolls, racial disparity in unemployment benefits, the race for AI leadership, and more.
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Information Operations
commentary
How You Can Fight Russia's Plans to Troll Americans During Campaign 2020
Marek N. Posard @mnposard, James V. Marrone, Todd C. Helmus @Helmus
Jul 14, 2020
Los Angeles Times
The goal of Russian interference is to trigger emotional reactions and drive people to ideological extremes, making it nearly impossible to build a consensus. But Americans are less likely to have their emotions manipulated if they are aware that manipulation is the goal.
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Media Literacy
commentary
A Machine Learning Approach Could Help Counter Disinformation
Kate Cox, Linda Slapakova, William Marcellino
Jun 25, 2020
C4ISRNET
Disinformation has become a central feature of the COVID-19 crisis. This type of malign information and high-tech “deepfake” imagery poses a risk to democratic societies worldwide by increasing public mistrust in governments and public authorities. New research highlights new ways to detect and dispel disinformation online.
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Information Operations
commentary
Exposing Russian Information Operations Does Not Violate the First Amendment
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
May 11, 2020
The Hill
Russia's hostile information operations are continuous and extend to a broad range of domestic issues. First Amendment concerns are important, but they do not protect hostile information campaigns by foreign actors, nor are they a legal excuse for inaction by the United States.
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Information Operations
commentary
Artificial Intelligence and the Manufacturing of Reality
Christopher Paul, Marek N. Posard @mnposard
Jan 20, 2020
Strategy Bridge
Humans carry flaws in deciding what is or is not real. The internet and other technologies have made it easier to weaponize and exploit these flaws. And artificial intelligence will likely be used to exploit these weaknesses at an unprecedented scale, speed, and level of effectiveness.
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Information Operations
commentary
What Translation Troubles Can Tell Us About Russian Information Warfare
Joe Cheravitch
Oct 4, 2019
Small Wars Journal
Moscow's form of information warfare targeting the West has attracted significant international attention since 2014, especially through its reinvigorated military intelligence branch. Nonetheless, little research has focused on these campaigns' apparent shortcomings. Most notable among operational errors are the confusing translation mistakes that undermine attempts at covert influence efforts.
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Information Operations
blog
Social Manipulation, Boko Haram, Citizen Scientists: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 6, 2019
This weekly recap looks at hostile social manipulation, stopping the next Boko Haram, a citizen-science success story, and more.
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Cyber Warfare
commentary
Fighting and Winning the Undeclared Cyber War
Isaac R. Porche III
Jun 24, 2019
Inside Sources
Russia has executed deliberate intrusions into U.S. critical infrastructure since at least 2011. These systems have included government entities, commercial facilities, water resource plants, and aviation institutions. What actions or policies can the U.S. execute to improve security?
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Russia
commentary
Mueller Report May Result in Russian Sanctions but Not Better Behavior
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Apr 26, 2019
The Hill
The Mueller report could help mobilize political pressure in the United States for a stronger posture toward Russian activities that harm American and allied interests. But the Kremlin will likely still see propaganda, disinformation, and subterfuge as useful tools to undermine America's values and cohesion.
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Information Operations
commentary
Is It Time to Abandon the Term Information Operations?
Christopher Paul
Mar 13, 2019
Strategy Bridge
Operations in the information environment will be a critical part of future joint force operations and should be baked in to those operations as a fully valued tool in commanders' combined arms toolboxes. Reaching that goal will require greater acceptance and understanding of information across the joint force, new structures for information forces, and the evolution of how operations in the information environment are handled within the staff.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Soft Strategy to Hostile Measures in Europe
Raphael S. Cohen, Andrew Radin @andrewmradin
Feb 26, 2019
War on the Rocks
They've been called political warfare, measures short of war, gray zone warfare, and a host of other terms. Russia has used a wide range of hostile measures to expand its influence and undermine governments across the European continent. These tactics should be appreciated for what they are: part of a larger, coherent Russian effort, but ultimately not an insurmountable one.
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Gun Violence
blog
The Most Popular RAND Research of 2018
Dec 21, 2018
RAND serves as an objective source of facts that help inform the world's most pressing policy debates. When decisions are based on the best evidence, that's when public policy can have a positive impact on people's lives. We're highlighting the 10 research projects that RAND.org readers found most engaging this year.
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Health and Wellness Promotion
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Military Spouses, Exercise Incentives, Libraries: RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 30, 2018
This weekly recap focuses on a scholarship program for military spouses, a wellness program that uses the Apple Watch, how libraries can improve public health, and more.
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Information Operations
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And, By the Way, They Were All Women: RAND Hosts Forum on 21st-Century Warfare Honoring Roberta Wohlstetter
Nov 26, 2018
National security experts, flag officers, and decisionmakers attended the Roberta Wohlstetter Forum on National Security at RAND's Washington office on October 24. The featured speakers, moderators, organizers, donor, and namesake for the event were all women.
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Information Operations
commentary
Iran's Disinformation Campaigns
Ariane M. Tabatabai
Aug 24, 2018
Foreign Affairs
New reports suggest that the Kremlin may have company in its efforts to shape the United States' domestic information landscape: Iran. As Americans prepare to return to the voting booths this fall, Washington would be well advised to look into Iran's disinformation capabilities and intentions.
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Information Operations
commentary
Here's How Russia Will Try to Interfere in the 2018 Elections
William Courtney @courtneywmh
Aug 14, 2018
Fox News Channel
Russia will threaten U.S. midterm elections in November, although by how much is unclear. Moscow might be more restrained this year, but it could be wilier.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Defeating the ISIS Nostalgia Narrative
Colin P. Clarke, Haroro J. Ingram
Apr 19, 2018
Foreign Policy Research Institute
It is crucial that the United States and its coalition partners take into consideration and preempt the ISIS nostalgia narratives that may seek to define the group's legacy and prepare a foundation for its resurgence throughout the Middle East and beyond. The legacy ISIS should be remembered for is one of misery and despair.
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Information Operations
commentary
Political Warfare Is Back with a Vengeance
Raphael S. Cohen, Linda Robinson @RobinsonL100
Apr 13, 2018
The National Interest
The United States' principal adversaries are fighting and gaining ground by employing a host of tactics short of all-out war. This form of warfare, once called political warfare, is back with a vengeance, empowered by new tools and techniques.
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Russia
commentary
Putin's Boasting About Nuclear Weapons Won't Help Him in the Russian Election
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Miriam Matthews
Mar 15, 2018
Newsweek
In a March 1 address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked Soviet-era exaggeration, proclaiming barely feasible economic and social goals and boasting of nuclear arms that are unlikely to change the strategic balance. Continued exaggeration could sap public confidence in the legitimacy of Russia's ruling system and leaders.
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Cyber Warfare
commentary
Getting Ready to Fight the Next (Cyber) War
Isaac R. Porche III
Mar 3, 2018
U.S. News & World Report
Nation-states and their proxies are regularly spying and attacking in cyberspace across national borders. The U.S. and other Western societies that are being targeted should do three things: Be less vulnerable, be able to recognize and mitigate the impact of attacks faster, and be prepared to respond in kind to all levels of offense.
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Information Operations
commentary
Beijing's Influence Operations Target Chinese Diaspora
Timothy R. Heath
Mar 1, 2018
War on the Rocks
China's efforts to cultivate support in and control diaspora communities threaten to worsen inter-ethnic tensions, aggravate political and social polarization, and harm the civil rights and freedoms of citizens in other countries. Such activities merit close attention by democratic governments seeking to counter China's influence operations.
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Information Operations
commentary
Free Lunches for Adversaries
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Christopher Paul
Feb 13, 2018
U.S. News & World Report
When leaders take actions that are unpopular with wide audiences, propagandists have it easy. While Western leaders should not make propaganda potential the primary factor when weighing policy decisions, neither should they wholly disregard the opportunities that unpopular policies will offer adversaries.
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Information Operations
commentary
Invisible Doomsday Machines: The Challenge of Clandestine Capabilities and Deterrence
Brendan Rittenhouse Green, Austin Long
Dec 15, 2017
War on the Rocks
As the United States increasingly contemplates acquiring clandestine capabilities for deterrence and warfighting, it should consider rethinking its approach to managing these programs. A unified management approach would go a great distance toward meeting the challenges of these capabilities.
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Information Operations
commentary
How Hezbollah Came to Dominate Information Warfare
Colin P. Clarke
Sep 19, 2017
The Jerusalem Post
Hezbollah's information warfare portfolio includes newspapers, social media outlets, television programming, and a major internet presence. Its websites reflect the group's diverse agenda and aim to be multi-generational in their approach, offering information about social services as well as a video game to engage youth.
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Information Operations
commentary
The Islamic State May Be Failing, but Its Strategic Communications Legacy Is Here to Stay
Colin P. Clarke, Charlie Winter
Aug 17, 2017
War on the Rocks
The Islamic State's caliphate is collapsing but its legacy will live on virtually because of its information operations. The scale of the menace presented by the group today pales in comparison to other global challenges, yet it manages to dominate and terrorize the public mind.
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Cyber Warfare
commentary
Russian Information Warfare: A Reality That Needs a Response
Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock
Jul 21, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
For the last three decades, Russia has exploited its growing capabilities in cyberspace to spy on, influence, and punish others. The West will continue to struggle to hold Moscow accountable, in part because international law falls far short of fully defining the rules or resolving conflicts.
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Information Operations
commentary
NATO: Prepared for Countering Disinformation Operations in the Baltic States?
Marta Kepe @martakepe
Jun 7, 2017
European Geostrategy
NATO alliance countries deploying to the Baltics should prepare to deal with increasing levels of disinformation. An open and robust communication strategy could be crucial in tackling a sophisticated Russian disinformation campaign aimed at disrupting support for these deployments.
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Critical Infrastructure Protection
commentary
Reservists and the National Guard Offer Untapped Resources for Cybersecurity
Isaac R. Porche III, Brian D. Wisniewski
Apr 18, 2017
TechCrunch
More than 100,000 personnel in the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve have some degree of cyber competence, including thousands with deep or mid-level expertise. They could help defend the cyber terrain on which America's national security, prosperity, and democracy depend.
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Russia
blog
Beyond the Headlines: RAND's Christopher Paul Discusses the Russian 'Firehose of Falsehood'
Dec 13, 2016
A massive, ingenious, and concerning campaign of propaganda has been pumping westward for years, supporting the Russian agenda in Ukraine and Syria and likely trying to influence the U.S. presidential election.
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Russia
commentary
Russian Propaganda Is Pervasive, and America Is Behind the Power Curve in Countering It
Christopher Paul, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Sep 13, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Even as Washington pursues cooperation with Moscow on Syria and other issues, America should expose Russia's obsession with propaganda and disinformation.
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Global Security
commentary
Inciting Peace
Michael A. Brown, Christopher Paul
Mar 30, 2016
Foreign Policy Concepts
Malicious ideas, ideologies, and narratives (such as those promoted by ISIS) cannot just be eliminated — they need to be replaced.
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Military Intelligence
commentary
Loose Clicks Sink Ships: When Social Media Meets Military Intelligence
Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung, Olga Oliker
Aug 14, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Social media updates can reveal military intelligence. But stopping a soldier from posting a geotagged tweet or Instagram photo presents challenges.
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Data Analysis
commentary
Why 'Big Data' Can't Find the Missing Malaysian Plane
Isaac R. Porche III
May 1, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
The failure to find the missing aircraft demonstrates anew the serious gaps in data coordination and challenges public assumptions about the thoroughness and simplicity of searching the world’s data for answers.
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Information Operations
commentary
Psychological Operations by Another Name Are Sweeter
Christopher Paul
Jul 29, 2010
Small Wars Journal
The Department of Defense has decided to change the name of military psychological operations (PSYOP) and this is a good thing, writes Christopher Paul.
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commentary
Lessons for Intelligence in the Campaign Against al Qaeda
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Mar 2, 2006
Vanguard
Published commentary by RAND staff: Lessons for Intelligence in the Campaign Against al Qaeda, in Vanguard magazine.
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commentary
War, Propaganda and Public Opinion
Lowell H. Schwartz
Dec 18, 2005
Baltimore Sun
Published commentary by RAND staff: War, Propaganda and Public Opinion in the Balitmore Sun.
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commentary
Strategy: Political Warfare Neglected
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jun 26, 2005
San Diego Union-Tribune
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Intelligence in the Information Age; Spy Data For Sale
Kevin M. O'Connell
Apr 8, 2001
Newsday
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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