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Information Operations

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Information operations and warfare, also known as influence operations, includes the collection of tactical information about an adversary as well as the dissemination of propaganda in pursuit of a competitive advantage over an opponent. RAND research has enabled military leaders and policymakers to develop strategies and policy frameworks to address the challenges of these military operations.

Research Brief

Improving Intelligence Support for Operations in the Information Environment

Dec 17, 2020

Challenges to effective intelligence support for operations in the information environment (OIE) can be addressed by improving processes, prioritizing support for OIE, training and educating personnel, and optimally allocating personnel.
Report

Frameworks for Assessing USEUCOM Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade

Jul 2, 2020

Campaigns to inform, influence, and persuade a range of foreign audiences are critical to achieving key U.S. national security objectives, but it can be challenging to assess the effectiveness of these efforts. How can assessment design and planning support U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) efforts?

Explore Information Operations

Multimedia

Using AI to Tackle Disinformation Online

RAND Europe analyst Linda Slapakova talks with RAND senior behavioral scientist William Marcellino about their study on human-machine detection of online-based malign information.

Oct 23, 2020
News Release

Facebook Users May Spread Russian Propaganda Less Often When They Are Aware of Its Source

Russian propaganda is hitting its mark on social media—generating strong partisan reactions that may help intensify political divisions—but Facebook users are less apt to press the “like” button on content when they learn that it is part of a foreign propaganda campaign.

Oct 15, 2020
News Release

Coordinated Efforts on Twitter to Interfere in the U.S. Presidential Election Are Likely Foreign

A coordinated effort on Twitter to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election—using trolls (fake personas that spread hyper-partisan themes) and super-connectors (highly-networked accounts)—aims to sow distrust, exacerbate political divisions and undermine confidence in American democracy.

Oct 8, 2020
Multimedia

Russian Interference in the 2020 U.S. Election

RAND military sociologist Marek Posard describes several broad risks of foreign interference in American democracy and explains how Russia may use reflexive control theory to cause disruption in the 2020 U.S. Election.

Oct 1, 2020
Report

Machine Learning Can Help Detect Misinformation Online

As social media is increasingly being used as a primary source for news, there is a rising threat from the spread of malign and false information. A new machine learning model identified differences between authentic political supporters and Russian trolls shaping online debates about the 2016 U.S. election. How could the model be applied in the future?

Jun 23, 2020
News Release

Hostile Social Manipulation by Russia and China a Growing but Poorly Understood Threat

With the role of information warfare in global strategic competition becoming much more apparent, a new RAND Corporation report delves into better defining and understanding the challenge facing the United States by focusing on the hostile social manipulation activities of the two leading users of such techniques: Russia and China.

Sep 4, 2019
Multimedia

Approaches to Counter Russian Social Media Influence

In this congressional briefing, RAND information scientist Elizabeth Bodine-Baron discusses the challenges in combating the threat of Russian influence via disinformation spread on social media.

Mar 15, 2019
Multimedia

Highlights from the Roberta Wohlstetter Forum on National Security

A forum on national security honors the legacy of Roberta Wohlstetter, a military analyst who worked at RAND from its creation in 1948 until 1965. Panelists discuss the events, capabilities, technologies, and methodologies that demand new concepts for national security and defense.

Oct 24, 2018
News Release

RAND Identifies New Strategies for Countering Russian Social Media Influence in Eastern Europe

Russia is waging a social media campaign in the Baltics, Ukraine and nearby states to sow dissent against neighboring governments, as well as NATO and the European Union.

Apr 12, 2018
News Release

RAND Study Examines Ways U.S. Can Better Counter Political Warfare

The United States needs to improve the ways it combats adversaries adept at using political warfare tactics to achieve their goals and undermine U.S. interests and allies.

Apr 5, 2018
Multimedia

Understanding Russian "Hybrid Warfare" and What Can Be Done About It

Testimony by Christopher S. Chivvis presented before the House Armed Services Committee on March 22, 2017.

Mar 22, 2017
News Release

U.S. Military's Efforts to Influence Afghan Population Have Grown Less Effective Over Time

The efforts of U.S. military information operations and psychological operations in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2010 grew less successful over time, as disenchantment with foreign occupation grew.

Apr 30, 2012
Content

Ryan Bauer

Defense Analyst
Education M.A. in security studies, Georgetown University; B.A. in political science, CSU Poly (Pomona)
Content

Elizabeth Bodine-Baron

Senior Information Scientist; Associate Director, Force Modernization and Employment Program, Project Air Force
Education Ph.D., M.S. in electrical engineering, California Institute of Technology; B.S. in electrical engineering, University of Texas at Austin; B.A. in liberal arts, University of Texas at Austin
Content

Natalie W. Crawford

Senior Fellow; Distinguished Chair in Air and Space Policy; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education B.A. in mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles; Honorary Ph.D. in engineering, Michigan State University; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Policy, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Content

Alyssa Demus

Senior Policy Analyst
Education M.A. in foreign policy and national security, American University; B.A. in international relations, University of Southern California; B.A. in political science, University of Southern California
Content

Todd C. Helmus

Senior Behavioral Scientist; Affiliate Faculty, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Wayne State University
Content

William Marcellino

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education Ph.D. in rhetoric, Carnegie Mellon University
Content

Krystyna Marcinek

Assistant Policy Researcher; Ph.D. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education M.A. in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies, Jagiellonian University, Poland
Content

Brian Mills

Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND; Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education B.S. in physics, Florida State University; B.S. in applied and computational mathematics, Florida State University

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RAND Topic:
Information Operations

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