Understanding Information Threats in the Modern Security Landscape

Information threats represent a growing challenge to national security worldwide, encompassing deliberate, harmful and coordinated activities designed to weaken NATO, its member states and partners. Unlike misinformation, which spreads without malicious intent, information threats are calculated operations conducted by state and non-state actors with specific strategic objectives.

These threats come in several forms, including disinformation (deliberately false information designed to manipulate opinions), propaganda (information crafted to influence target audiences toward particular behaviors or beliefs), and foreign information manipulation and interference. They are often components of hybrid warfare strategies that blur the lines between war and peace using military and non-military means.

“Information threats tear at the social fabric holding societies together,” explains a senior NATO intelligence officer who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of their work. “They systematically undermine public trust in institutions and exploit divisions along social, ethnic, and political lines.”

The digital age has magnified these dangers. Artificial intelligence and deepfake technology have created powerful tools for those seeking to manipulate public perception. These technologies don’t always aim to convince people of specific falsehoods—sometimes their goal is simply to create confusion and information fatigue, leaving citizens unable to distinguish fact from fiction.

This strategy serves two purposes: some citizens become unwitting vectors for false information, while others grow so frustrated by the deluge of contradictory claims that they disengage entirely from civic discourse. Both outcomes benefit hostile actors seeking to diminish societal resilience.

For NATO, countering these threats is critical to maintaining collective defense capabilities. The alliance’s effectiveness depends on the strength and unity of its member countries. When foreign actors attempt to weaken allied societies through information manipulation, they directly threaten NATO’s fundamental purpose.

The alliance has developed a comprehensive framework to combat information threats through coordination with numerous stakeholders. NATO works closely with member governments, partner nations, international organizations like the European Union and United Nations, private companies, media outlets, social media platforms, civil society groups, and academic institutions.

“Our approach is deliberately multi-faceted because the threats themselves are complex and evolving,” says a NATO strategic communications expert. “We’ve developed response options ranging from immediate interventions to long-term resilience building.”

NATO’s counter-strategy revolves around four key functions: understanding threats, preventing their effectiveness, containing and mitigating their impact, and recovering by learning lessons from each encounter.

The alliance maintains sophisticated Information Environment Assessment capabilities that analyze potential threats using an “ABCDE” framework—examining the actor, behavior, content, degree, and effect of suspicious information activities. This intelligence informs NATO’s proactive communication efforts.

Prevention includes “pre-bunking”—anticipating hostile narratives and sharing accurate information before disinformation can take hold. NATO engages with the public through various channels, including social media, media relations, and direct community engagement. The alliance also provides grants to non-governmental organizations and academic institutions to strengthen societal resilience against information manipulation.

When active threats emerge, NATO’s containment strategy carefully balances the need to correct falsehoods without amplifying them. The NATO Rapid Response Group coordinates with similar mechanisms in the EU and G7 to provide early warning of emerging information threats.

In cases where disinformation has gained significant traction, NATO directly addresses false narratives. The alliance has repeatedly countered Russian propaganda regarding the war in Ukraine and continues to debunk myths targeted against the organization itself.

By continuously analyzing the tactics used by malign actors, NATO improves its defensive capabilities and helps member nations strengthen their own information security. This cyclical process of assessment and adaptation remains crucial as information threats continue to evolve in sophistication and scale.

As information warfare becomes increasingly central to geopolitical competition, NATO’s efforts to protect the information environment represent a vital component of collective security in the 21st century.