Psychological warfare 

The New Military-Industrial Complex of Big Data Psy-Ops

Apparently, the age of the old-fashioned spook is in decline. What is emerging instead is an obscure world of mysterious boutique companies specializing in data analysis and online influence that contract with government agencies. As they say about hedge funds, if the general public has heard their names that’s probably not a good sign. But there is now one data analysis company that anyone who pays attention to the US and UK press has heard of: Cambridge Analytica. Representatives have boasted that their list of past and current clients includes the British Ministry of Defense, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of State, the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and NATO. Nevertheless, they became recognized for just one influence campaign: the one that helped Donald Trump get elected president of the United States. The kind of help the company offered has since been the subject of much unwelcome legal and journalistic scrutiny.

Psychological warfare

Psychological Warfare on Social Media Our New Threat: Rathore

In the backdrop of ongoing unrest in Kashmir, Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore today said "psychological wars" waged in cyberspace are the "new threat" of our times, and urged people to turn into "social media soldiers" to counter this new-age warfare.

"The world is changing. First there was traditional war, then nuclear war, and then limited intensity war (like Kargil). But, today's threat is of cyber war and through that psychological warfare. And, this psychological war is the biggest war," he said.

The Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting was addressing a gathering at a function organised by Jammu and Kashmir People's Forum to mark 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' at the Constitution Club of India here.

Psychological warfare

ANALYSIS: A Twist On Psychological Warfare Against Wavering Islamist Jihadists

Those in charge of developing and executing strategy in America’s war on terror are beginning a new phase based on a counseling philosophy. The idea is that individuals prone to joining in terrorist attacks on the West might be encouraged through the use of psychology and associated counseling techniques to change their minds.

It’s difficult to fault any attempt to defeat terrorism, but this latest tactic must be well thought out before resources are diverted in its pursuit. And though this seems a highly unique turn in our efforts in the war on terror, lessons may in fact be learned from similar, previous attempts to change the mindset of our enemy. As a matter of fact, Saudi Arabia has, since shortly after 9/11, engaged in a somewhat softer approach in tackling radical ideologies.