Participatory Propaganda in Seven Simple Steps

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especially in critical industries, such organisations
would do well to elevate the understanding of
senior leadership on issues related to participatory
propaganda and related topics, such as social
engineering. Regular penetration tests and staff
exercises can help build resiliency to these types of
information attacks.
MILITARIES
In a Digital Age, war is no longer confined by time
and space. Through information warfare, and
techniques such as participatory propaganda,
adversaries can constantly attack – not just
opposing militaries, but the hearts and minds of
citizens, at home and abroad. The use of persuasive
communications is thus used to dissuade people
from supporting things such as armed intervention
abroad, membership in broader collectives such as
NATO, or even militaries, in general. More must be
done to understand the changing nature of warfare
as a result. In particular, a shift in perception must
occur from one of viewing cyber or information
operations as separate, less important aspects
of conflict, to one that understands that societies
dependent on ICTs are particularly and constantly
vulnerable to a new threat of information warfare.
To that end, militaries should:
• Ensure their doctrines, manuals and operational
orders address issues related to information
security, warfare and behaviour, whether in
times of peace or open conflict, regarding
domestic and foreign audiences.
• Engage in high-level information sessions
aimed at bringing the upper echelons of
leadership up to speed on the changing nature
of this threat;
• Adapt basic training to include fostering a
deeper understanding for how information
warfare is changing the nature of conflict, and
how every service member’s actions can and
will be used against them in a Digital Age; and
• Run exercises aimed at developing effective
counter participatory propaganda models.