infowar
Weaponized false narratives
Infowar is conflict waged through information—spreading propaganda, disrupting communications, hacking databases, or manipulating public perception.
The term emerged with the internet age, when information became both weapon and battlefield: The election was marred by infowar tactics from foreign actors.
Also called information warfare.
Intentionally deceptive media content
- hoaxesIntentional public deceptions
- falsehoodsDeliberate untruths
- deepfakesAI-manipulated fake media
- fabricationsInvented untrue statements
deception · lies · manipulation · distortion · rumors · untruths · troll farms · astroturfing
Infiltrating protected digital systems
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- data breachUnauthorized access to protected information
- network intrusionUnauthorized system access
- cyber espionageComputer-based intelligence gathering
malware · phishing · DDoS · botnet · signal jamming · spoofing · social engineering · encryption
Political art for causes
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- state mediaGovernment-run news organizations
censorship · messaging · persuasion · narrative control · newspeak · sloganeering · yellow journalism · demagogue
Power to affect others
- mindsetEstablished mental attitude
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- subliminalBelow threshold of awareness
groupthink · echo chamber · polarization · radicalization · fear mongering · morale · demoralization · wedge issues
fake news
Intentionally deceptive media content
- hoaxesIntentional public deceptions
- falsehoodsDeliberate untruths
- deepfakesAI-manipulated fake media
fabrications · deception · lies · manipulation · distortion · rumors · untruths · troll farms · astroturfing · fact-checking
hacking
Infiltrating protected digital systems
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- data breachUnauthorized access to protected information
- network intrusionUnauthorized system access
cyber espionage · malware · phishing · DDoS · botnet · signal jamming · spoofing · social engineering · encryption · decryption
agitprop
Political art for causes
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- spinRapid rotation around axis
state media · censorship · messaging · persuasion · narrative control · newspeak · sloganeering · yellow journalism · demagogue · psyops
influence
Power to affect others
- mindsetEstablished mental attitude
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
subliminal · groupthink · echo chamber · polarization · radicalization · fear mongering · morale · demoralization · wedge issues · division
infowarconventional warfare
Armed conflict using standard military forces
armed conflict · shooting war · hot war · ground war · traditional warfare
infowartruth-telling
Communicating only facts
fact-checking · open dialogue · free press · academic discourse · peer review
info, war, information, inform, informant, informer, informative, informed, misinform