Izvorni znanstveni članak
Political and security dimensions of social networks usage in modern information environment
Nikola Mlinac
Sažetak
Due to the substantial development of information technologies, information operations are no longer solely part of military warfare vocabulary; the term ‘information operations’ can now be used to describe actions manifested within the civilian information environment.
In his context, the modern information environment is increasingly characterised by social networks, which have formed an unregulated virtual environment conducive to spreading extreme views and deliberate counter-information, as well as creating deceptions. Social networks are being used to radicalize, recruit, popularise and shape public perception of the actions of terrorist, anarchical, radical and extreme social groups, which use the networks to agitate, to impose ideological concepts and to impose interest-based narratives. The usage of social networks in the manipulative context is more and more expressed in the political communication, thus contributing to polarisation of society. It represents a useful tool for managing perception in order to influence emotions, motivation, thinking and decisions of an interest-based group. With the help of software robots, they can be used to conduct influence operations, as well as information, media and psychological operations, regardless of whether the operations are being undertaken by state on non-state actors, minority or violent groups, or if it is corporate, marketing, political or scientific action. Such action can target information broadcast systems or political leaders, leading them to make inaccurate conclusions, estimates and decisions (as a rule, the decisions of interest to those undertaking the operations).
Releasing disinformation and spreading interest-based narratives are not new concepts. However, modern technologies enable new methods of manipulation, whose scope is growingly vague and harder to identify, especially in social activity. Information science theorists are therefore facing the challenge of evaluating such information.
This article describes the usage of social networks in a political and security context, which are potential carriers of such activity. It also analyses the cutting-edge mechanisms and technological tools, the usage of the so-called software robots.
Ključne riječi
social networks; software robots; counter-information; influence operations
Hrčak ID:
185160
URI
Datum izdavanja:
23.9.2016.
Posjeta: 1.547 *