The Internet and Psychological Operations

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As an information medium and vehicle of influence, the Internet is a powerful tool, in both
open societies as well as in those whose only glimpse of the outside world is increasingly
viewed and shaped through webpages, E-mail, and electronic chat rooms. Moreover, the sword
cuts both ways, as unconstrained (legally, socially, politically) adversaries find the Internet an
effective vehicle for influencing popular support for their cause or inciting the opposite against
the U.S. or its interests. Consequently, the realm of military psychological operations (PSYOP)
must be expanded to include the Internet. Just as obvious is the need for action to remove or
update current policy and legal constraints on the use of the Internet by military PSYOP
forces, allowing them to embrace the full range of media, so that the U.S. will not be placed at
a disadvantage. Although current international law restricts many aspects of PSYOP either
through ambiguity or non-currency, there is ample legal room for both the U.S. and others to
conduct PSYOP using modern technology and media such as the Internet. Existing policy and
legal restrictions, however, must be changed, allowing military PSYOP forces to both defend
and counter adversarial disinformation and propaganda attacks which impact on the
achievement of military objectives. By examining this issue, I hope to highlight the importance
of the Internet for PSYOP and foment further discussion.

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