Engaging Cyber Communities

Abstract

Abstract : There are 1.7 billion Internet users worldwide as of October, 2009 and growing. The dramatic growth in online users in conjunction with the influence of social communities in cyberspace is having an effect in current and future international affairs. Despite the growing amount of activity performed by social groups in cyberspace, the US military remains focused on technology centric operations such as computer network attack and computer network defense. This leads to the question of whether the US military is missing an opportunity by not focusing on online social communities. This research performed a problem and solutions methodology to investigate this question. The research came up with the criteria of value and risk to analyze whether the US military should engage cyber communities. The results of this study suggest engaging online communities can augment the technology-centric solutions. Engaging online communities can help to degrade, deceive, and exploit adversaries operations in cyberspace. Engaging online communities can also influence and help respond to social groups issues and concerns. Without responding or influencing these groups they are left to their own vagaries as well as negative and adversarial influence. There are risks associated with engaging online communities due to the ubiquitous reach of cyberspace. An ill-conceived comment, text, or video can be sent globally and have a negative impact to objectives and reputation. However, this study finds applying controls and rules of engagement in undertaking these operations can mitigate the risks. Thus, the US military needs to develop these capabilities and engage social communities in cyberspace.