Defending National Security by Combating Disinformation

The growing threat of foreign disinformation campaigns against the United States has reached unprecedented levels, with Russia and China deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to influence American public opinion. These efforts, amplified by artificial intelligence and social media algorithms, represent a direct attack on national security that demands a more robust response, according to intelligence experts.

Foreign adversaries have transformed the information environment into a cognitive battlefield where American beliefs and perceptions are systematically targeted. Russia employs what analysts call a “firehose of falsehoods” strategy, flooding social media with misleading content at such volume that it overwhelms fact-checking efforts. In 2020 alone, Russian troll farms reportedly reached 140 million American users monthly, with platform algorithms inadvertently amplifying this content.

China’s approach differs slightly but remains equally concerning. Beijing has aggressively pursued what experts term “information pipes” – channels of influence within mainstream Western media outlets, including prestigious wire services. This strategy allows state propaganda to reach American audiences disguised as legitimate news. When faced with unfavorable coverage, such as BBC reporting on Uyghur human rights abuses, China has deployed networks of trolls and dozens of fake news websites to undermine credibility.

“The evolution of artificial intelligence has dramatically escalated these threats,” explains William Coffin, a strategic intelligence professional with expertise in disinformation. “Deepfakes have progressed from obvious forgeries to sophisticated impersonations capable of fooling government officials.”

In one alarming incident, AI-generated voices successfully impersonated the Secretary of State. Both Russia and China now utilize AI to generate personalized disinformation at unprecedented scale, with content that adapts in real time to maximize impact.

America’s institutional response has proven inadequate. The Biden administration’s Disinformation Governance Board, established within the Department of Homeland Security, collapsed after just three weeks following political backlash over concerns about government overreach. The dissolution of other counter-disinformation initiatives, including the Director for National Intelligence’s Foreign Malign Center and the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, has left significant gaps in America’s defense against domestic disinformation campaigns.

National security experts are increasingly calling for the Department of Defense to play a more prominent role in countering these information threats. The military possesses both the expertise and the mandate to address these challenges as part of homeland defense, particularly through U.S. Northern Command and Cyber Command.

Critically, the military brings substantial public trust to this fight. While only 33 percent of Americans express confidence in news media and 39 percent in Congress, the military maintains an 82 percent trust rating – making it uniquely positioned to combat disinformation that thrives on eroding institutional credibility.

The Defense Department already employs analysts who integrate intelligence to detect malign influence and predict adversary actions. The same methodologies protecting deployed forces could protect American citizens from disinformation. The U.S. Army has begun establishing specialized units focused on disinformation in the Indo-Pacific and European theaters.

One successful model for future efforts was the Biden administration’s decision to declassify intelligence exposing Russia’s invasion plans for Ukraine, effectively countering Kremlin disinformation before it could take root. This “prebunking” approach demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in the information domain.

However, military involvement in counter-disinformation efforts carries significant risks. Political actors have weaponized accusations of “fake news” to undermine legitimate criticism, and government officials have occasionally amplified unverified narratives for political gain.

To mitigate these concerns, experts recommend developing clear frameworks that distinguish foreign adversary operations from domestic political disagreements. Strict adherence to Defense Department doctrine and regulations, along with operational transparency, will be essential to prevent politicization.

“Counter-disinformation efforts demand protection through directive or regulation to prevent misuse,” notes Coffin. “Regulations should define disinformation clearly, establish that military activities must target only foreign state-sponsored operations attributed by the intelligence community, and require oversight from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.”

With more than half of Americans now getting news from social media, the threat posed by sophisticated disinformation campaigns represents a direct challenge to national security that demands a coordinated response leveraging the military’s unique capabilities and institutional trust.