FRANK Talks: Information Warfare as the New Battlespace – Paradise Valley

Weaponized Narrative: Information Warfare as the New Battlespace

Dr. Braden Allenby, Arizona State University, President’s Professor of Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering, and Lincoln Professor of Engineering and Ethics

Weaponized narrative is the latest term for information warfare, focusing specifically on the role of new media in shaping opinion. Weaponized narratives attack the shared beliefs and values of a person or society, and undercut culture and resiliency.  Instead of using actual bombs and bullets, adversaries use tactics such as deceptive information initiatives to attack identity, manipulate narratives/stories, and manufacture emotional and psychological warfare.  What are the effects on our psychology and behavior?  How do we begin to understand the role of information warfare in social media, news, and marketing? Can weaponized narratives cause social polarization as destructive as actual war?  Join us for this timely FRANK Talk to discuss the impact of information warfare on civic engagement and our democratic institutions.