From Strategy to Tactics: Conceptualizing Weaponization of Digital Media Platforms across Levels of Warfare

Abstract

The exponential proliferation of digital media platforms has reshaped the nature and character of modern warfare, establishing novel challenges in the Information Environment. The weaponization of social media platforms have intensified the ‘fog of war’ as the very concept of it lacks clarity. This paper conceptualizes the weaponization of digital media platforms in four levels of warfare- strategic, operational, tactical, and intelligence level. The paper is based on existing literature and case studies. At strategic level, digital media is used by adversaries to create offensive narratives with long-term strategic objectives. Whereas, adversaries use digital media platforms to carry out targeted ‘Influence Operations’ to achieve cognitive objectives. This is manifested in social and psychological fragmentation of society. At tactical level, digital media trends and tactics help proliferate real-time PsyOps (Psychological Operations). This is done by deploying bots, trolls, and creating trends to permeate disinformation against state and state actors in an Information Environment. While at Intelligence Level, the paper poses various techniques of intelligence collection in the domain of SOCMNIT (Social Media Intelligence). The paper offers insights into complex interplay between fragility of information environment on digital media and cognitive vulnerabilities in the context of contemporary warfare. The four layered framework provides a conceptual foundation for policy makers and strategists to address the pervasive weaponization of digital media platforms in the contemporary fifth-generation warfare.