Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 5, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2020 | Page 27

The Case for the Sixth Domain of War: Psychological Warfare in the Age of Advanced Technology
release of documents is promulgated in
a meticulous fashion, to achieve heightened
effects and reactions. James Shires
(2019) argues that hack and leak operations
are mechanisms of delegitimization,
based on their technical characteristics,
social and political context, and target
audiences. This conceptualized framework
advances our argument for a sixth
domain: the effects of a cyber-operation
such as cyber espionage can reach far
beyond the intrusion itself and into the
realm of public consciousness.
3) Technical Disruptions
Technical disruptions typically involve
the hindrance and/or suspense of activities
in cyberspace in order to degrade
operational effectiveness, which inevitably
leads to emotional frustration.
This activity includes causing glitches
in IT to influence emotions, motives,
and objective reasoning. Ultimately, the
behavior of an operative becomes less
efficient and effective in performing
their own cyber missions in a manner
favorable to their objectives. Much of
this effort focuses on “creating an endless
series of technology annoyances
and time-wasting interruptions that
degrade and disrupt the workflow of
network operators significantly” (Lin
2020). These methods involve the usage
of cyberspace to affect the brain and, by
extension, behavior.
4) Precision Target identification
through use of data and predictive
analytics
This tactic refers to acquiring data that
exhibits user habits online to precisely
target victims more likely to be impacted
by actions to drive and manipulate
behavior. It allows for building insight
from analysis of data collected through
online interactions and engagements to
form predictions about future behavior.
Artificial intelligence trained with data
from users’ social media accounts, economic
media interactions (Uber, Apple
Pay, etc.), and their devices’ geolocation
can infer predictive knowledge of its
targets (Telley 2018). A commercial example
to illustrate this technique is the
new phenomenon of using consumer
data habits to drive real time automated
bidding on personalized advertising—
otherwise known as “programmatic
advertising.” It is only a matter of time
before nation states begin to weaponize
this technique, particularly in elections
and civic engagement (Patterson 2019).
Why Recognition of the
Psychological Domain Matters
The distinguishing feature of war
in the psychological domain is
the targeting of human decision-making.
Information often empowers
people and enriches their lives,
and the internet enhances it by providing
ever-greater access to new knowledge,
business, and services; however,
there is a downside to virtual space as
well. Many topics in the social sciences
are approached with the assumption
that people are “rational actors,” but
our adversaries approach war in the
cognitive domain knowing full well
that the opposite is often much closer
to the truth. People are not simply rational
processors of information, and
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