Hacking Democracy: Influence Operations in the Digital Age

Influence operations and the spread of propaganda and disinformation are frequently used techniques to achieve strategic goals and objectives. A well-known, and relatively recent example is Russia’s interference in democratic elections in Europe and the US. The actors, threats and the instruments can however be difficult to identify, the effects can be demanding to foresee, and countermeasures can thus be difficult to develop and implement. What is the scope of this type of activity, who is behind the operations, and what are their intentions? How can states improve their ability to respond to threats created by influence operations?

To shed light on these questions, The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and The Norwegian Atlantic Committee invite you to a half-day conference at Kulturhuset in Oslo. Speakers from NATO STRATCOM, the US Office of Naval Research, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK), Carnegie Mellon University (US), and Defence Research and Development Canada, will discuss current and future challenges related to influence operations. In addition, students from the now famous Lillestrøm High School will present an influence campaign aimed at young people that they have developed themselves.