Along with the actual war in Ukraine, a unique information war is also currently taking place, of which we are all observers. Experts unanimously agree that now more than ever it is vital to check all the information you receive and understand that it will not be easy to change the views of the Russian people.
Participants in the discussion on reliable and fake news point out that today many people consume more information than usual. The huge flow of information can not only make it difficult to select what is true, but it also increases anxiety.
Information warfare expert Mantas Martišius, cyber security expert Marius Pareščius, and Director of NRD Cyber Security, Vilius Benetis, highlight a few things that are particularly important in the context of today’s information war.
The reliability of information sources is key
The experts who took part in the discussion agree that now many of us are consuming information not just from traditional sources in order to monitor war events in Ukraine. By this they mean not only the media but also social networks or contacts in Ukraine and Russia. According to Mr. Martišius, to be calmer about the reliability of the information, users could limit themselves to media reports – the editors and journalists who work at news outlets always check facts before publishing them.
Security expert Mr. Pareščius, involved in cyber-attacks against Russia, tells us that he uses personal links when assessing the veracity of information he encounters, as he has contacts both in the Ukrainian army and in other countries or organizations. All participants in the debate agree that the average consumer does not have such opportunities and must, therefore, take particular care as to what sources their information comes from.
“The first thing to do when a report comes through during the war is to ask yourself whether it is true or whether it could really have happened. The second is to examine what the source of the report is,” advises information warfare expert Mr. Martišius.
At the same time, Mr. Pareščius reminds us that in spreading disinformation Russia tends to share both true and fake news. As a result, it is extremely difficult to select reliable channels on social networks and the various groups there.
“Mistakes in the dissemination of information, without knowing whether it is real or not, can be repeated frequently. I can give an example of one Russian-owned Telegram channel, which publishes more than just fake reports. Half of them are real, but the rest − false. For the average user, it is extremely difficult to distinguish which is which,” he says.
No one participant in information warfare
When talking about an information war, Russia is most often the prime example. However, experts agree that there are three main audiences in today’s context: Russia, Ukraine, and the rest of the world.
“Both within each group and collectively, moral superiority is the goal. If Russia succeeds in spreading false information in the global public space, e.g., reports that the Ukrainian army is losing, that Ukrainians do not want to resist, and that image begins to spread − some Ukrainians may stop fighting. As of now, Russia has failed to do so,” says Mr. Martišius.
According to Mr. Benetis, Director of NRD Cyber Security, it is important that we are resilient not only individually, but also that various organizations and businesses stay firm. Mr. Pareščius does not doubt that the contribution of every resident of Lithuania is now valuable: “We see that Russia is closing and blocking everything, shutting down TV channels and trying not to let through any information that a real war is taking place rather than just a special operation. When people no longer have information, they start to imagine that they don’t need to know anything, that Putin is right, that he is doing everything right. We are trying to pass important information on to the ordinary people in Russia.”
“It is possible to win an information war, even a cyberwar can be won, but the most important thing is to win the real war,” adds Mr. Martišius.
Changing the views of the Russian population will be very difficult
According to Mr. Beneitis, the war in Ukraine changed much and united many, but it will not be easy to shift the attitude of the Russian people. “It is difficult for anyone to change their mind if they believe the propaganda. We know that it is stressful for a person to go through a dramatic shift in their fundamental concepts. And to expect that by writing a message, especially an angry one, I will change the course of everything, is quite naive. But, on the other hand, those narratives need to be told,” he believes.
Mr. Martišius believes that it is difficult to expect rapid changes because we do not know where Russia’s weak points can be found; however, sharing and spreading real facts can help discover those spots that will encourage at least some of the Russian population to stop and think.
“The Russian public space has long been ruled by the Kremlin. Eight out of ten people believed only information provided by the Kremlin. What we write and the dissemination of information are extremely important, but to hope that this will turn the tide is unreal. However, Russia is on edge after the economic sanctions and their being on the fast track to becoming another North Korea shows that they are afraid, very afraid,” notes Mr. Martišius.
In his opinion, in an information war, it is most difficult for all the sides to see the situation as it is, not the way we want it to be. “When there is a conflict between the heart and mind, the heart always wins and so selectivity emerges in the selection of information,” adds the expert.