Cybersecurity and Online Misinformation

Back in 2019, I found myself in a classroom at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, surrounded by future military leaders and a few civilians. The instructor posed a question: “What poses the greatest threat to national security?” Surprisingly, the unanimous answer wasn’t terrorism or nuclear weapons; rather, it was cyber attacks.

This week, a feature on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, illustrated the deceptive nature of foreign cyber threats by letting users see where accounts are based. Almost immediately, it became clear that some of the most vocal users, who claimed to be American, were actually operating from abroad.

One particular fake account claimed the name “ULTRAMAGA us TRUMPus2028,” complete with patriotic imagery, and falsely stated it was located in Washington, DC, but was actually registered in Africa. Another now-deleted account, “Trump is my president,” was traced back to Macedonia. Additionally, a seemingly patriotic account named @American, featuring a profile picture of a bald eagle on an American flag, was actually based in South Asia.

Since the 2016 election, it’s been evident that foreign entities frequently exploit fake social media profiles to deepen societal divides. The Mueller report even highlighted a case where a fake Russian account organized a physical political rally within the U.S.

In a recent column, I pointed out how the MAGA movement has increasingly attracted foreign interest looking to undermine it. These fake accounts, which can give a false impression of popularity through likes and shares, might also be harnessed for monetization by malicious actors.

Unfortunately, our commitment to a free society, along with our military and economic strengths, makes us particularly susceptible to such information assaults. It seems like our biggest weakness may well be how we value the free exchange of information over security concerns.

For instance, we wouldn’t allow China to bombard our children with a relentless flow of propaganda, yet platforms like TikTok do just that. Even attempts to ban it haven’t worked, as something else would likely take its place. The First Amendment complicates things further.

This is why, while I hate to add to your already busy schedule, the most effective defense against these foreign influences is simply having an informed populace. That’s about it, really—there aren’t many other substantial solutions.

In a free society, it’s nearly impossible for the government to shield its citizens from foreign attackers masquerading as friendly neighbors. That’s why Musk’s move to label the country of origin for accounts is such a significant step.

However, using this tool isn’t enough on its own. We must remain vigilant and aware that everything we encounter online might not be genuine. It can be quite a responsibility to constantly scrutinize what we see online, but that’s what freedom demands of us—discernment and informed choices.

When someone talks about influencers wielding significant power over their online followers, consider whether you’ve seen evidence of that influence outside the digital realm. Is there a possibility of a real-world event? Have you heard people discussing these influencers in day-to-day conversations?

It’s also worth considering who stands to gain from any discord sown in our society and whether these figures are fostering a sense of distrust or even dehumanization among us. The usual culprits tend to be nations like Russia, China, and Iran.

I can imagine Elon Musk, given his history with the Army War College, praises the addition of country-of-origin labeling. It’s undoubtedly a setback for foreign intelligence operations. Yet, he might remind us to stay alert.

Importantly, we should remember that most of our neighbors and fellow Americans are genuinely good people. We should maintain a healthy skepticism about what screens might portray otherwise, as our adversaries will continue to exploit this vulnerability.