Decision-Making Paralysis & Trust Erosion: From Psychological Warfare to an AI-Led “Information War”

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Information Warfare is no longer confined to the battlefield; it permeates every layer of society. From institutional decision-making and intelligence analysis to everyday users seeking trustworthy news, we are all operating in an environment shaped by increasingly sophisticated disinformation tactics. What was once a secondary concern in OSINT operations is now a primary threat: the credibility of sources and content is under continuous attack.

While not a new phenomenon, Information Warfare has evolved into one of the most complex hybrid threats, especially with the rise of Generative AI. As highlighted by organisations like NATO, EDMO, and the Joint Research Centre, AI-powered deepfakes, doctored footage, and manipulated texts are now weaponised to distort perception, paralyse decision-making, and undermine public trust.

This article examines the evolving strategies of disinformation and AI-driven manipulation, and their implications for situational awareness in an era of digital deception. We also briefly discuss potential approaches to enhance the detection and mitigation of disinformation.

Challenges in Source Reliability and Content Credibility

Malicious actors employ a wide range of strategies to manipulate information. These are compounded by unintentional actions, such as the widespread resharing of unverified content, which also contribute significantly to the spread of disinformation. As previously highlighted, these hybrid threats are multimodal and increasingly realistic, often triggering what is known as the Liar’s Dividend: a phenomenon where the sheer volume of manipulated content leads people to distrust even accurate information.

When highly convincing visual content is combined with sophisticated textual or audio manipulation, it becomes increasingly difficult to escape the credibility trap they create. Moreover, disinformation is no longer limited to emotional language or overtly biased narratives. Today’s manipulation strategies are far more subtle and complex, making even text-based distortions harder to detect and more dangerous in their ability to shape perceptions.