9 Comments
User's avatar
Cathie Campbell's avatar

The mind is given a surfeit of ads to comply or deny actionable information and this attention to the mind’s eye is not surprising. It cannot be ignored and this focus on cognitive warfare is essential. The tidal waves of information coming so fast within international exchanges need signals of trust versus skepticism. Building belief is fragile and destroying belief is difficult to overcome with truth.

The One Percent Rule's avatar

Excellent point about the fragility of belief. In a system designed for speed, skepticism often arrives too late, while truth moves too slowly to catch up with the damage. That focus on the mind’s eye is exactly why this doctrine is so transformative, and so dangerous.

Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

Do I look terrified? Okay, I'm terrified.

"They are designed to occur below the threshold of armed conflict..." Worse yet, they're designed to occur below the threshold of conscious awareness.

'The Finnish bulletin is explicit that the aim is not simply to control information, but to control “how the target population reacts to presented information.”' OMG, they're trying to program us!

"It is difficult not to notice that this description also functions as a description of the current media ecosystem. The weapon has already been built". Oh yes, Faux Newspeak, InYourFaceBook, 卐itter, etc.

"The ambition is to narrow the range of possible responses until the outcome becomes statistically reliable. This is not persuasion. It is closer to conditioning, except that the subjects remain convinced of their autonomy". This sounds like doublethink to me. "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."

"If defense requires shaping perception in advance, then the defender adopts the same operational posture as the adversary". I was about to ask precisely this question, but upon reading further, I see you've already answered it.

I wonder if future historians will write about "The Paradox Wars".

The One Percent Rule's avatar

I share that terror Winston. The fact that the weaponized ecosystem is already our primary source of information makes the whole of society defense feel more like a permanent mobilization of our minds. Paradox Wars is a perfect name for it.

Paula's avatar

Excellent article Collin.

At the core, the most simplest form, survival of fittest, free thinkers and the feeble minded.

See you around ;)

The One Percent Rule's avatar

Glad you enjoyed it. It’s definitely a high-stakes environment for the mind,keeps things interesting.

Robot Bender's avatar

"Precise about methods," but not "precise about the ends" makes me very concerned about how this will be used.

JAMES LEONARD's avatar

We also need to start talking about neuro weapons like China's NeuroStrike =/

The One Percent Rule's avatar

Yes, so true James.