The purpose of this course is to expose students to the evolution of information warfare, from the 1700s to current day. The course will examine propaganda and disinformation campaigns, the psychology behind how they work and how they became central to both the Cold War and political elections. The course will then look at the advent of social media and algorithmic optimization to facilitate and accelerate the reach and impact. Students will explore the impact on both United States and global events such as Brexit and the French Presidential Elections. Finally, students will discuss where this will lead in the coming years and explore potential policy solutions across intelligence tools and strengthening critical thinking, as well as the legal implications including privacy laws, internet regulations and national security implications.
Instructor of record: D. Bryan Jones