Understanding PSYOP: Ethics and Impact

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.

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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