Unclassified Data Abounds in Various Sources, Yet Remains Elusive in the U.S. Army's Framework of Information Dominance
In the digital age, the line between personal and professional information has become increasingly blurred, especially for those in the military. From LinkedIn to Facebook, fake profiles are rife, attempting to make connections with users in targeted marketing campaigns, posing a significant threat to the US military.
The Army is acutely aware of this threat and is developing its doctrine for information advantage, a condition that enables a more complete operational picture and leads to decision dominance. This strategy encompasses activities such as enabling decision making, protecting friendly information, informing and educating domestic audiences, and conducting information warfare.
However, the use of open-source data and large-scale, legal data collection efforts can pose national security risks. This is evident in China's aggressive data collection for domestic and international goals, a concern that has been highlighted by the vast bank of genomic data amassed by China's Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) through its prenatal genetic test.
The Ukrainian conflict, which started three months ago, has provided analysts with a wealth of open-source data on military movements, troop locations, shelling damage, weapon types, and more. This data can be used to expose government activity, such as military maneuvers, resource allocation, travel, or policy activity, and poses a national security risk.
The US military is not immune to these risks. US service members are susceptible to targeted marketing and foreign manipulation and surveillance efforts. Adversaries can glean a lot of information about US strategic interests from tracking US military activity on apps like Flightradar24 and Strava.
Moreover, open-source data presents a risk to the US military's ability to fulfill its mandate of man, train, and equip. It can reveal sensitive information about people's habits, likes, dislikes, exercise routines, and more, potentially compromising operational security.
The risks of open-source data are not an individual's problem but an Army problem. Commanders need to be equipped with the tools necessary to assess the operational risks of open-source data, social media, and related information technologies. A dedicated data risk management framework would serve as a guide for commanders to continually and methodically assess the evolving information environment.
George Washington, in his wisdom, emphasized that soldiers are citizens first. In this digital age, this sentiment holds true. The Army needs to strike a balance between leveraging open-source data for operational advantage and mitigating the risks it poses to national security.
The concept of "Information Advantage" was developed by the US Army in the early 1990s as part of its transformation towards network-centric warfare. Today, this concept is more relevant than ever, as the Army navigates the complex and ever-changing digital landscape.
In the face of these challenges, the Army must remain vigilant, adaptive, and proactive. The risks associated with open-source data are real, but with the right strategies and tools, the Army can harness the power of open-source data while minimizing the associated risks.
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