COUNTERING HOSTILE INFORMATION ACTIVITIES USING SOCIAL PLATFORMS

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to analyzing hostile information activities utilizing social platforms and seeking methods to counter them. It acknowledges the particular vulnerability of contemporary society to disinformation due to changes in the information environment and technological advancements. The primary aim of the research is to analyze the tools employed by countries and international organizations to combat disinformation and to identify directions for further development of information policy to enhance resilience against hostile information activities.

Materials and methods. Official reports from international organizations, government entities, research from non-governmental organizations, and analysts constitute the main sources for analysis. The method of synthesizing scientific data is utilized to analyze and consolidate research findings and scholarly publications concerning hostile information activities and their societal impact.

Results and discussion. The study extensively presents instruments of hostile information activities such as disinformation, propaganda, external information manipulation, among others. The author identifies and describes the consequences of employing these instruments, including diminished trust in traditional media, societal polarization, and erosion of trust in governmental institutions. An analysis of stages of Russian hostile information influence on Ukraine is conducted, highlighting major categories of hostile narratives and disinformation propagated by Russia during periods of full-scale intrusion. Measures undertaken by Ukraine to safeguard its information space and resist Russian information aggression are delineated.

Instances of information aggression from Russia and China toward other nations via social platforms are provided. The objectives and methods employed by these countries, including the dissemination of disinformation and manipulation of public opinion, are described.

Conclusions. Recommendations aimed at enhancing the capacity to counter hostile information activities and society's resilience to external threats are identified. The conclusions underscore the critical importance of understanding and controlling information processes to ensure national security amid hybrid warfare. Hostile actions, particularly through social networks, aimed at spreading disinformation and manipulating public opinion to destabilize societies and heighten political polarization, pose threats not only to national security but also to democratic processes. In response, countries must implement diverse and extensive measures to counteract these threats, including increasing media literacy, monitoring disinformation, and collaborating with other nations to mitigate the impact of informational threats.