The battlefield has changed. While the threat of tanks and missiles still looms large, a new form of warfare is taking place—one fought not in the physical world but in the minds of people. Cognitive warfare, where information, disinformation, and psychological manipulation are deployed to shape perceptions and behavior, is becoming the front line in global conflict. Russia, China, and Iran are waging sophisticated campaigns to divide societies, undermine governments, and influence decision-making—without firing a shot. These tactics, deployed through digital platforms, weaponize data, algorithms, and artificial intelligence to manipulate what we believe and how we act.
The U.S. is behind. While we dominate the traditional military space, we’ve been slower to adapt to this new battlefield, weighed down by bureaucratic inertia and outdated frameworks. Our adversaries have shown us what cognitive warfare can achieve. Russia, for instance, has weaponized disinformation to undermine support for Ukraine by launching large-scale operations across Europe and the Middle East. Russian actors have set up networks of fake news sites impersonating legitimate media outlets in France, Germany, and other countries, spreading false claims that Ukraine is selling Western-supplied weapons on the black market or that European citizens face economic ruin without Russian gas. Similarly, pro-Russian groups have launched disinformation campaigns to disrupt the 2024 Paris Olympics by fabricating terror threats and releasing fake news clips warning spectators of imminent attacks.
China’s approach is no less insidious. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operates a coordinated strategy that blends psychological, media, and legal warfare under the Three Warfares Doctrine. It aims to shape global narratives and present China as the dominant world power, while undermining the legitimacy of Western democracies. Platforms like TikTok have become key tools for China’s influence operations, as Beijing subtly manipulates what content is amplified, ensuring pro-China and anti-Western narratives are prioritized. In addition, China’s Belt and Road Initiative has become a vehicle for economic coercion, where digital infrastructure projects in developing countries come with strings attached—namely, increased CCP influence over local information networks.
But what makes this threat even more dangerous is the exponential growth and adaptation of AI in cognitive warfare. Russia and China are increasingly using AI to automate the spread of disinformation, manipulate algorithms, and create deepfakes that are virtually indistinguishable from real content. AI allows these nations to scale their operations at an unprecedented pace, learning from every interaction to refine their tactics. If we’re not careful, we could reach a point where we can no longer catch up. The sheer volume of disinformation AI can generate, the speed at which it can spread, and the precision with which it can target specific populations mean that our window to gain an advantage is closing fast.
Here’s the irony: the U.S. already has the tools to win this fight. We make the world’s best AI chips and software. American companies like NVIDIA, Intel, and Google lead the world in AI development, and they have the talent and resources to counter the cognitive warfare threats we face. But instead of leveraging these advantages, we’re stuck in outdated thinking. The problem isn’t the lack of tools; it’s the lack of engagement. We’re not fully tapping into the power of U.S. companies that could help safeguard the nation’s security in the digital space. If we don’t get these companies on board, the technology they develop could just as easily end up stolen by China or Russia, fueling the very threats we’re trying to combat.
To regain the initiative, we need a comprehensive approach centered on two priorities: investments in advanced technology, particularly artificial intelligence, and a reshaping of our legal frameworks to allow intelligence agencies to take the lead in cognitive warfare.
Let’s start with technology. Our adversaries are using AI, machine learning, and data analytics to identify social fractures and exploit them through disinformation. They’re using deepfakes, fake news, and bots to amplify false narratives with precision. The U.S. has the technological advantage here—if we use it. We must invest heavily in artificial intelligence and cutting-edge data science to not just respond to disinformation but to anticipate and preempt it. The tools to do this are within reach. But we need to fully integrate the capabilities of American tech companies into our national defense strategy. Companies like Google and Microsoft already lead the world in AI development. If we forge strong partnerships with them and align their capabilities with national security goals, we’ll stand a chance of keeping pace with adversaries who see no distinction between their state and private sectors.
But technology alone won’t save us. Our current legal frameworks, while essential, can sometimes impede swift coordination in the realm of cognitive warfare. The divide between Title 10, which governs military operations, and Title 50, which governs covert intelligence actions, means that the DoD and the Intelligence Community often operate in separate spheres. The Intelligence Community is already the lead on covert influence operations, and rightly so—these missions require the clandestine tools and expertise of agencies like the CIA and NSA. The DoD, on the other hand, plays a critical role in conventional warfare and securing its own systems. However, cognitive warfare is increasingly becoming a shared battlefield. As the lines blur between traditional military conflict and information operations, closer collaboration between the DoD and the Intelligence Community is essential. The legal framework needs to evolve so these operations can be more agile, allowing for joint efforts where the CIA’s covert expertise is complemented by the DoD’s infrastructure and operational capabilities, especially in high-stakes scenarios.
We can’t afford to sit back and react anymore. The battlefield of ideas and perceptions is dynamic and fast-moving. Every day, our adversaries get better at targeting our divisions, manipulating our institutions, and swaying public opinion. They aren’t waiting for us to catch up, and they certainly aren’t playing by our rules. It’s time we wake up to the reality that cognitive warfare isn’t a side show—it is the main event. And in this arena, the U.S. has no choice but to lead. If we don’t, someone else will.
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