Digital morphing — voice, video, and photo — has come of age, available for use in psychological operations. PSYOPS, as the military calls it, seek to exploit human vulnerabilities in enemy governments, militaries and populations to pursue national and battlefield objectives.To some, PSYOPS is a backwater military discipline of leaflet dropping and radio propaganda. To a growing group of information war technologists, it is the nexus of fantasy and reality. Being able to manufacture convincing audio or video, they say, might be the difference in a successful military operation or coup.
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Video and photo manipulation has already raised profound questions of authenticity for the journalistic world. With audio joining the mix, it is not only journalists but also privacy advocates and the conspiracy-minded who will no doubt ponder the worrisome mischief that lurks in the not too distant future.
"We already know that seeing isn't necessarily believing," says Dan Kuehl, "now I guess hearing isn't either."
i love the little dance that goes on every time a tape is released where they originally claim that the authenticity hasnt been confirmed, and then they 'conclude' that it is legitimate...
2 comments:
I always find the timing of the tape releases interesting, as well. Followed by planned in advance speeches on why we need to continue the war on terror.
hi desi - yeah - the timing is always dodgy - not least on the eve of the election when everyone on the planet, except obl apparently, thought that his cameo would help Bush.
re "planned in advance speeches on why we need to continue the war on terror." - it would actually be difficult to find a time when there wasnt any upcoming TWOT speeches...
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