Top practitioners in psychological operations, government officials from the Departments of Defense and State, gathered in Tampa earlier this month to discuss how the US can influence global perceptions around national-security issues. They concluded that the US is performing poorly compared to China and Russia. A key issue is resistance to the idea that the US should influence perceptions in a digital media landscape where individuals receive customized messages tailored to their views.
The consequences of the US losing the global influence competition have already surfaced, as seen in incidents like Russian influence operations leading to the installation of a hostile government in Niger and the use of deepfakes during elections in Slovakia. The US is also witnessing coordinated information warfare efforts among Russia, China, and Iran.
To address the disparity in influence activities, the US government established the Perception Management Office in March 2023. Additionally, a nearly $1 billion contract with Peraton aims to develop strategies to counter threats to national security posed by China and Russia. However, the US is facing cuts in its influence capabilities in areas like the army’s information warfare capabilities and the CIA’s covert Influence Group. To enhance its competitive position, experts suggest centralization and leadership in influence operations.
