Page 68 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

Intelion analyses the impact and sentiment of online news and social media.

StratCom, the second step

One of the ways to "fight back" in the cognitive domain is through strategic communications. This holistic
view of communications uses values and interests to achieve specific objectives. Actions tend to be
medium to long term, usually complex, as they take place in a highly competitive environment, such as
the Internet, in which there are many other state and private actors, each with their own particular
interests.

Given the volatility of current information, Intelion's constant monitoring allows for rapid feedback on the
results of the actions carried out, in order to adapt them if necessary. It also makes it possible to gauge
the impact of these actions on the public and on online sentiment.

These information conflicts are often quite wide-ranging and can easily cross over from the purely military
to the economic and political spheres, which means that the legality of the actions taken must never be
lost sight of, within the framework of national security.

Both information operations (INFOOPS) and psychological operations (PSYOPS) are part of the cognitive
domain and can affect the economic and social sphere. They can be aimed at deterrence, neutralisation
or even aggression, just as in the classic land, sea and air domains, but with very different implications
and the possibility of including civilian targets intentionally or collaterally, as the internet does not
distinguish to whom a message or news can reach, especially if the medium of transmission is social
media.

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