In the blind spot: Influence operations and sub-threshold situational awareness in Norway

Situational awareness in the face of hybrid campaigns is undermined by 'blind spots', which this article conceptualises. Blind spots are where legal or political frameworks preclude intelligence gathering below the threshold of war. Drawing on a historical case study of alterations in legi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of strategic studies 2023-04, Vol.46 (3), p.595-623
Main Author: Notaker, Hallvard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Criminalization
Human rights
hybrid
Influence operations
Intelligence
Intelligence gathering
Legislation
liminal warfare
National security
Norway
Operators
Police
Situational awareness
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Summary:Situational awareness in the face of hybrid campaigns is undermined by 'blind spots', which this article conceptualises. Blind spots are where legal or political frameworks preclude intelligence gathering below the threshold of war. Drawing on a historical case study of alterations in legislation and security police directives in Norway from 1950-2021, the analysis shows how an influence operation's blind spot varied along with shifts in the balance between national security concerns and democratic individual rights. Recent initiatives to criminalise domestic collaboration with foreign influence operators are discussed, and the advent of AI and microtargeting presented as a challenge out of reach of such legislation.
ISSN:0140-2390
1743-937X
DOI:10.1080/01402390.2022.2039634