65: PSYOP

PSYOP, or “Psychological Operations”, is something the US military has been doing to foreign audiences for decades. But what exactly is it? And what’s the difference between white, gray, and black PSYOP missions? We talk to PSYOP specialists to learn more.

Thanks to Jon Nichols for telling us about this fascinating world.

Sponsors

Support for this episode comes from LastPass. LastPass is a great password manager but it can do so much more. It can setup 2FA for your company, or use it to monitor what your users are doing in the network. Visit LastPass.com/Darknet to start your 14 day free trial.

Support for this episode comes from Blinkist. They offer thousands of condensed non-fiction books, so you can get through books in about 15 minutes. Check out Blinkist.com/DARKNET to start your 7 day free trial and get 25% off when you sign up.

Sources

• https://www.democracynow.org/2006/3/24/the_psyops_war_a_look_at
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Group
• https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/special-operations/psyop/psyop-mission.html#
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wandering_Soul_(Vietnam_War)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torches_of_Freedom
• http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16040coll3/id/182
• https://archive.org/details/PropagandaAudiobook/Propaganda+Chapter+01.mp3
• https://www.newsweek.com/us-military-gets-mysterious-and-false-text-message-evacuate-korean-peninsula-669875
• https://www.cbinsights.com/research/future-of-information-warfare/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Authorization_Act_for_Fiscal_Year_2013#Smith%E2%80%93Mundt_Modernization_Act_of_2012

Videos

• Vietnam War Ghost Audio Tape used in PSYOPS ‘Wandering Soul’
• Jon Nichols Part 0 - Unallocated Spaces Talk on Russian Propaganda
• Cyber-Influence: Cyberwar and Psychological Operations
• WWII Psych Ops
• MISO Marines broadcast important information to Afghans
• The War You Don’t See
• Edward L. Bernays interview, 1986-10-23
• As it fights two wars, the Pentagon is steadily and dramatically increasing money spent on propaganda

Episode source