Monitoring social media : lessons for future Department of Defense social media analysis in support of information operations / William Marcellino, Meagan L. Smith, Christopher Paul, Lauren Skrabala.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Marcellino, William, author.

Smith, Meagan L., author.

Paul, Christopher, author.

Skrabala, Lauren, author.

Contributor:

National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), issuing body.

International Security and Defense Policy Center, researcher.

Rand Corporation. National Security Research Division, publisher.

United States. Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office, sponsor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Information warfare--United States--21st century.

Information warfare.

Social media--Political aspects--United States--21st century.

Social media.

Computer networks--Security measures--United States--21st century.

Computer networks.

Data protection--Moral and ethical aspects--21st century.

Data protection.

Privacy, Right of--United States--21st century.

Privacy, Right of.

Terrorism--United States--Prevention--21st century.

Terrorism.

National security--United States--21st century.

National security.

Other Title:

Monitoring Social Media

Summary:

"Social media analysis is playing an important and increasing role in advertising and academic research, but it also has significant potential to support military information operations by providing a window into the perspectives, thoughts, and communications of a wide range of relevant audiences. Although there are compelling national security reasons to field a social media analysis capability, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) must do so while navigating U.S. law and cultural norms and under conditions of great uncertainty. Existing legal and policy frameworks have not anticipated the rapid pace and global reach of modern communication networks, and questions of cost and implementation hinder the development of a robust social media analysis capability and the most fruitful applications for these analyses. To support DoD's assessment of the benefits, trade-offs, and implementation challenges that it will face as it expands its capacity for social media analysis, this report reviews the analytic approaches that will be most valuable for information operations, as well as legal, ethical, policy, technological, and training considerations. It also includes a set of recommendations to help DoD navigate this terrain while building a robust, effective social media analysis capability to support operations worldwide."--Publisher's description.

Contents:

Preface

Figures and Tables

Summary

Abbreviations

1. The Need for Social Media Monitoring to Support U.S. Department of Defense Information Operations: Purpose and Scope of This Report

Study Approach and Methods

Structure of This Report

2. How Social Media Analysis Could Support Information Operations: The Information Environment and Information-Related Capabilities

Intelligence

Military Information Support Operations

OPSEC and MILDEC

Public Affairs

Civil-Military Operations

Key Leader Engagement

An IRC-Based Framework for Building Social Media Analytic Capacity

3. Social Media Analytical Methods for Supporting Information Operations: Social Media's Limitations as Data Source

Key Concepts and Methods in Social Media Analysis

Approaches to Analyzing Social Media Data

4. Context and Considerations for the Use of Social Media Analysis in Information Operations: Legal Issues

Current U.S. Law and Information Operations

Title 10 Versus Title 50 Concerns

Developing Clear Policy Directives on DoD's Use of Social Media Data

Special Considerations: Collection of Information on U.S. Persons

Ethics Issues

Data and Technology Considerations

Training Considerations

5. Recommendations: Develop DoD-Specific Policy and Language for Social Media Analysis

Recommendations for Implementation and Integration

Technical Recommendations

References.