Future of Information Influence Operations: Scifi as a Tool to Imagine the Unthinkable
Abstract:
The importance of information influence operations in international conflicts has increased. New technologies and tools like the Internet and social media have enabled influence operations to shift to new channels with a wider audience. But what will happen to information influence operations in the future? By using future studies’ methods like scenarios and science fiction, it is possible to try to imagine the various possibilities for information influence operations. This article presents a method for creating scifi stories based on scenarios to think about the future of information influence operations and their counteractions.
AUTHORS
Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy National Defence University
Helsinki, Finland
Elina Hiltunen is a futurist, D.Sc. (Business administration) from Aalto University, School of Business and M.Sc. (chemical engineering) from Helsinki University of Technology (currently Aalto University, School of Chemical Engineering). Currently she is also studying at National Defence University, Finland and doing her second PhD thesis on the topic of how to use science fiction in the foresight process of defence organizations. Hiltunen is also an author/coauthor of 14 books. The topics of the book include, for example, foresight methods, technology forecasts, consumer trends, and future of the whole world. She is also a science fiction author.
![Photo of Dr. Aki-Mauri Huhtinen, (LTC [GS])](https://www.jinfowar.com/sites/default/files/authors/Dr.%20Aki-Mauri%20Huhtinen.jpg "Aki-Mauri Huhtinen")
Finnish National Defence University Helsinki
Finland
Dr. Aki-Mauri Huhtinen, (LTC [GS]) is a military professor at the Finnish National Defence University in the Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy. His areas of expertise are military leadership, command and control, information warfare, the philosophy of science in military organizational research, and the philosophy of war. He has published peer-reviewed journal articles, a book chapter and books on information warfare and non-kinetic influence in the battle space. He has also organized and led several research and development projects in the Finnish Defence Forces during 2005-22.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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