Communication

II. Techniques of Disinformation

Disinformation, widely used across the globe and in all fields, is employed to deceive decision-makers and the public. It has also fostered the development of a sort of sixth sense, indispensable for any country aiming to maintain a place in the fierce international competition.
Confusion of feelings, moral conflict, panic, indecision, pressure on emotions, thoughts, trends, and population behavior—these are the techniques and methods used; weapons just as deadly and destructive as cannons and bombers.

After a brief overview of the utility of this "sixth sense," my modest presentation will focus primarily on the techniques and methods of disinformation.
Disinformation, with its various shades, is a very old tactic that has become a strategy used in all areas to undermine specific or national interests, leading to the cultivation of this indispensable "sixth sense" in any competitive context.

Disinformation is not a new endeavor; it has existed since the dawn of time. Sun-Tzu, the great Chinese military strategist 2,500 years ago, recognized its strategic importance in the form of deception by writing:

"When you are capable, give the illusion of being incapable; when you are strong, give the illusion of being weak."

Without going back to the inevitable Sun-Tzu, one only needs to think of Hitler, for whom war was nothing more than the confusion of feelings, panic, fear, and indecision.

Faced with such actions, only a sixth sense can allow the skillful use of disinformation and, more importantly, the ability and means to foresee and protect oneself from it effectively.
This sixth sense was the strength of certain military leaders.

For instance, Colonel Bigeard in Algeria established the famous "Georges Commandos", composed of local allies who lived among their own people, spreading false information while gathering valuable intelligence.
In light of the above, it is clear how useful and important this sixth sense is, based on the art of conveying information and outwitting manipulation.

To deceive public opinion by influencing decision-makers and decision-making criteria, manipulators use techniques that are not new.
Disinformation, therefore, spreads information that is more or less true or even entirely false, to which communication experts assign a "taint" of color—a very telling term. We distinguish:

• White Disinformation: This refers to a set of real facts that are not revealed for a certain period but are later brought to public attention. This delay allows the credibility or impact of an event to be altered.
• Grey Disinformation: A subtle mix of truth and lies. In a set of facts, generally credible or verifiable, false information is introduced to complete an entity put together for a determined purpose. The result of this clever combination is intended to create an impression of great authenticity.
• Black Disinformation: Based on entirely invented events whose credibility can only last for a short period but long enough to cause confusion in people's minds.

Regardless of its "shade," disinformation is part of the collective unconscious. It seeks to create a passionate and irrational debate in societies, often aiming to provoke an emotional shock on particularly mobilizing subjects.
This concerted implementation of various measures and means, aimed at influencing opinion, emotions, attitudes, and behavior in a way that favors the realization of well-defined objectives, takes on the characteristics of psychological warfare.

PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE:

Subversion, propaganda, deception, and rumors are the techniques used to affect minds and are the foundations of psychological warfare.

In fact, among the cases mentioned, the Gulf War is undoubtedly the only instance where psychological warfare was in sync with both the military strategy and the overall objectives. The triple aim of demonizing the enemy to justify the war, exaggerating its military potential to instill fear in its neighbors and better unite them, and ensuring unity in the United States to avoid the rejection caused by the "Vietnam Syndrome," were all aligned with appropriate political and military strategies.

The media were tightly controlled and properly guided. In addition to the spectacular and innovative electronic and air strategies that impressed the public, much focus was placed on "hostages" turned "human shields," while the threat posed by Scud missiles was exaggerated, though the Israelis were carefully kept out of the conflict. Coordination with Congress was flawless, as was coordination with the UN. Thus, the war was legal and "just" – even “clean,” thanks to depersonalized and moderated targets, stopping short of Baghdad.

In short, by adding the risk of weapons of mass destruction supposedly in Saddam Hussein’s possession and the fear that oil trade might be disrupted due to his actions, psychological, political, and strategic elements were carefully aligned.

From the perspective of subversion, disinformation represents an essential aspect of subversive warfare, as summarized by this Chinese proverb: “To effectively capture souls, you must first control physical persons. When you firmly hold a glass, you can pour anything into it, but if the glass is shaking or held crookedly, you can’t pour much into it.”

In the case of propaganda, effective results require targeting a specific group (for example, pacifists), creating a climate of collective psychosis around a sensitive issue (like nuclear testing, as evidenced by the disinformation campaign led by Greenpeace). In this destabilization of minds, propaganda is defined as an attempt to influence opinion so that the individuals of a "target group" adopt a specific mode of thinking and behavior. Even today, propaganda remains influential in totalitarian regimes, guerrilla movements, and extremist factions.

Deception is another effective means of disinformation, allowing the enemy to be misled about military operations, forcing them to react in a way that is detrimental to their interests. For instance, during "Operation Urgent Fury" in Grenada, the Americans took advantage of a US Navy fleet, including the aircraft carrier "Independence," which was heading to Lebanon but diverted towards the Caribbean. The idea of an American invasion of Grenada was “absurd.” The surprise was total. The next day, American troops landed on the island, toppling the Marxist-Leninist regime.

Rumors also play a significant role in this revolutionary game, subtly spreading incorrect information to trigger a harmful response from the group receiving the falsified message. History is full of examples illustrating the impact of this method. A particularly telling example is a delicate phase of "Operation Restore Hope" in Somalia. The American air bombings led to massive destruction of civilian buildings, suspected of harboring General Aidid. These violent assaults generated strong anti-American sentiment in the Somali capital.

It is clear that disinformation today takes on new forms and occupies a key position in international competition. In this great psychological war, subversion, propaganda, deception, and rumors are the most commonly used techniques, owing to the flexibility of the vehicles that carry them.

III-VECTORS OF DISINFORMATION:

To operate the machinery of disinformation, various vectors are used. The most formidable are the media, but there are also the crowd, religion or ideology, and finally, the close circle of influence.

Indeed, the media, particularly television, have a direct impact on the population through images and persuasive techniques. According to the context, fabricated testimonials or manipulated images may be presented to support erroneous information. Similarly, the internet serves as a tool for professionals who aim to distort information when necessary. This danger is amplified by the skyrocketing number of internet users, particularly in the commercial sector.

In this context, the goal is to discredit a competitor who poses, or could pose, a threat. Numerous examples exist in this field. One of the most spectacular is the intense disinformation battle between Japanese and European or American brands in the automotive industry.

Though the internet is often seen as an "information superhighway," it is also an "avenue of disinformation." For example, using sniffer programs, it is possible to explore a subscriber’s hard drive without their knowledge and modify their data when necessary. Those who practice this manipulation are known as hackers.

The crowd also serves as a vehicle for manipulation and the spread of information for disinformation purposes, especially in dictatorial regimes. Hitler was a master of this. He would make the crowd wait for hours before appearing in public, strategically placing groups within the larger mass to calm or inflame the crowd.

This technique is linked to rhetoric, which involves combining gestures and words that gradually become more intense, even violent, directly targeting individuals' emotions rather than their reason. This renders individuals irrational, compliant, fervent, and eventually convinced and loyal to the ideology presented by the leader, who, in turn, becomes a tool for spreading ideas.

Other manipulators resort to religion, spiritualism, or ideology to stir a collective conscience and fill an existing void. This kind of manipulation causes considerable damage in popular environments. The manipulator adopts a victimized stance, presenting the population targeted by manipulation as being oppressed by a situation, an injustice, or a system.

This can be seen with Zionism, which has consistently portrayed Jews throughout history as victims of organized extermination, thus justifying the need for protection and assistance, making it a formidable force. Brainwashing is also used by sects on individuals in vulnerable situations, rendering them completely submissive.

Disinformation does not only target ordinary people but also influential decision-makers who are supposedly alert and on their guard. To succeed, the manipulators attack their close circles, such as advisors to heads of state or bodyguards. Sometimes, the close circle is manipulated from the outside, but often it is the source of the manipulation. A prime example is the political leaders of Russia, from Stalin to Boris Yeltsin, who were victims of machinations concocted by their immediate entourage. The best time for such manipulation was often during vacations, especially at the seaside resorts along the Black Sea.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, considering what has been discussed above, it can be confirmed without error that the vectors of disinformation are becoming increasingly formidable as communication methods become more efficient thanks to technological advancements.

We have seen that disinformation spares no aspect of an individual's life, and that we must not easily accept the information perceived by our five senses. It is essential to develop a sixth sense and immerse oneself in a culture of disinformation.

This sixth sense and culture of disinformation, today more than yesterday and even more so tomorrow, are crucial tools for any decision-maker. They can not only help avoid falling prey to manipulation but also enable the strategic use of disinformation for noble causes.

Currently, we are shown images of the Pathfinder on the planet Mars, some 26 million kilometers away. These images, along with those of the NASA personnel expressing joy over the achievement, are impressive, but are they sufficient to believe in their authenticity?