Cyber operations

The article emphasizes the need for the US to counter gray zone activities—coercive and subversive actions below armed conflict—by developing offensive and defensive strategies. It highlights the importance of a whole-of-government approach, expertise in adversary behavior, and deniability to avoid escalation. The White House has taken a step forward by appointing a National Security Council Director for Cognitive Advantage, but further integration of tools like cyber operations, economic pressures, and information campaigns is required.

Russia is conducting a cyber campaign against the West, following a pattern of using cyber operations to undermine governments, collect intelligence, and prepare the battlefield. Moscow also positions itself as a proponent of global cyber rules.

The article discusses the challenges of observing successful cyber deterrence, as it often prevents attacks without leaving evidence. Researchers struggle to study deterrence successes, unlike failures which are visible through actions like invasions or cyberattacks.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is prioritizing the integration of cyber operations into all military activities and ensuring security is embedded in artificial intelligence (AI) systems from their development. Defense officials emphasized the need to move away from treating cyber as a siloed function, instead blending it with kinetic operations and other non-kinetic effects to address evolving battlefield dynamics. Katherine Sutton and Brandon Pugh, key cyber policy officials, highlighted the importance of proactive security measures for AI to prevent adversarial exploitation.

Iran’s military is using Western AI models like ChatGPT to enhance its cyber operations, including developing malware and launching attacks. The article highlights how these tools are being leveraged to advance Tehran’s cyber capabilities.

An opinion piece argues that human oversight in military decision-making creates a strategic disadvantage against adversaries operating at machine speed, particularly in cyber operations. The author contends that while humans should retain decision-making authority in most defense contexts, the speed differential between autonomous and human-controlled systems may force difficult choices about keeping humans in the loop.

This Lawfare article discusses cyber operations in relation to Maschmeyer's 'Subversion Trilemma,' analyzing the strategic challenges and constraints in conducting cyberattacks against nation-states or adversaries. The piece examines the theoretical framework that outlines the inherent tensions and difficult choices cyber operators face when planning subversive operations.