War and Conflict in Digital Era—A Dangerous Concoction

Historically, countries have used mass media to propagate their version during a war or a conflict. Often its layered with varied types of information or disinformation, all targeted to keep up with audience in own country, the enemy country and also opinion makers in other countries. Technological developments since the turn of the millennium have had a greater impact on the dissemination of information than ever before. The digital medium fuelled by billions of smartphone users having 4G connectivity is the reality which most countries and militaries face. It’s an information boom, a dangerous concoction where sifting between lies and truth is tough. Any individual in any country can propel a narrative. The diminishing control of governments over this content is the new facet of war. A digitally connected world of websites, coupled with social media applications that bring up content based on the past browsing history of an individual has allowed for targeted information spread. Smartphone-based social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp provide a ready-made 24 × 7 audience in war or conflict. Digital medium provides almost live coverage of war, the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict is yet another example. In the past, there have been similar events. The killing of Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad Pakistan was updated live on Twitter by a local citizen living close. The India-Pak Skirmish in February 2019, the India-China clash in June 2020, or the Israel-Gaza strip missile firing (2021) have seen information and disinformation being spread through digital medium. In military strategy, social media and its use is defined as ‘information warfare’. Satellite images sourced from private operators, live video streams, regular updates and opinions are posted from all over the world. Rise in digital medium means a reduction in the narrative-setting capacity of the government—which, during the era of radio or televised broadcast, sent out a sanitised version. Some 300 years ago newspapers were the first printed means of mass communication to spread information. The first photographs of war date back to 1855 during the Crimean War between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Radio broadcast formed the crux of opinion, information and disinformation during the twentieth century. During the World War II (1939–1945) Allies led by USA, UK, Russia, etc., used it and so did the Axis powers led by Germans. In Asia, India, China, Pakistan and Vietnam have used it too. Advent of communication satellites and cable TV meant the US-Vietnam War (1954–75) was the first televised war in the USA. By the time the first Gulf War occurred in 1991 cable TV had spread to third-world countries, allowing the setting up of a narrative as videos were beamed live.