Cognitive Security

Synthetic Media in the Information Battlespace: Scalable Evaluation for Detection, Attribution, and Characterization Analytics

Abstract:

As synthetic media becomes weaponized in influence operations and cognitive warfare, the ability to assess the authenticity and intent of multimodal information is essential to sustaining information integrity and decision advantage. This paper introduces a scalable multimodal evaluation framework for assessing analytics that detect, attribute, and characterize synthetic and manipulated media across text, image, audio, and video. Drawing on insights from the DARPA Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) program, the authors report results across 111 evaluation tasks and identify strengths and vulnerabilities in analytic performance. Findings highlight the need for explainable, context-aware analytic frameworks that support cognitive security and operational decision making.

Published In

Volume 25, Issue 2

Digital Technologies and Security: Towards a Recomposition of the Strategic Field of Information Warfare?

Abstract:

Digital technologies are often described as transforming security and war, yet their strategic effects remain contested. This article argues that cyber capabilities and related digital infrastructures are better understood as recomposing the strategic field rather than inaugurating a discrete Revolution in Military Affairs. Drawing on large-N datasets of interstate cyber incidents, illustrative case studies, and policy and doctrinal documents, it traces how digital tools reshape instruments of coercion, diversify relevant actors beyond states, and blur domestic and external spaces of security. The analysis highlights governance dilemmas for deterrence, alliance coordination, and the regulation of platform power.

Published In

Volume 25, Issue 2

Written By

Tewfik Hamel

The UnCODE System: A Neurocentric Systems Approach for Classifying the Goals and Methods of Cognitive Warfare

Abstract:

Cognitive Warfare leverages advances in science and technology to influence how populations think and behave. There is currently no unified framework for conceptualizing its goals and methods. This paper introduces the Unplug, Corrupt, disOrganize, Diagnose, Enhance (UnCODE) system to classify Cognitive Warfare strategies. UnCODE is neurocentric, focusing on how adversarial actions affect neural information processing in individuals, algorithms, or societies. It defines five goal categories and divides methods into direct and indirect neural access. Being domain- and species-agnostic, UnCODE enables interdisciplinary understanding of attack strategies and serves as a unifying framework for analysing Cognitive Warfare across contexts.

Published In

Volume 24, Issue 4

Machine Intelligence to Detect, Characterise, and Defend against Influence Operations in the Information Environment

Abstract:

Deceptive content—misleading, falsified, and fabricated—is routinely created and spread online with the intent to create confusion and widen political and social divides. This study presents a comprehensive overview of content intelligence capabilities (WatchOwl– https://watchowl. pnnl.gov/) to detect, describe, and defend against information operations on Twitter as an example social platform to explain the influence of misleading content diffusion and enable those charged with defending against such manipulation and responsive parties to counter it. We first present deep learning models for misinformation and disinformation detection in multilingual and multimodal settings followed by psycho-linguistic analysis across broad deception categories. 

Published In

Volume 20, Issue 2

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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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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