Overseas malign information operations by foreign actors seek to undermine the strategic interests of the United States. These operations are intended to manipulate the global information environment for geostrategic purposes by disseminating false or misleading information to shape narratives, shift public discourse, and undermine other nations' national security. These operations often leverage classical propaganda techniques, such as name-calling, glittering generalities, transfer, testimonial, plain-folk, card-stacking, and bandwagon. In this report, the authors explore methods to detect underlying instances of propaganda devices that might be indicative of broader malign information operations abroad by analyzing hundreds of articles from multiple overseas media outlets. Specifically, the authors explore using large language models (LLMs), which present an opportunity for the detection of overseas propaganda, disinformation, and misinformation targeting foreign audiences. These instances can be indicative of broader attempts by foreign adversaries to undermine U.S. credibility, influence, and alliances abroad. Unlike traditional methods that rely heavily on specific linguistic indicators or network analysis, LLMs have increasingly large context windows, which offer the ability to incorporate the broader context of the text. The authors assess the performance of these detection tools to gain insights into the capabilities of these technologies to identify overseas propaganda. This represents a first step in preventing malign actors from exploiting the overseas information environment to pursue their strategic goals at the expense of other nations.

As humanity increasingly embraces the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) and its capabilities are having profound impacts on all facets of society, including information warfare. This impact is particularly relevant in the Indo-Pacific region, where the rise of AI-powered disinformation and malign information campaigns can pose significant challenges to national security and stability. The People's Republic of China (PRC), with its advanced AI technology and extensive information operations, is a significant factor shaping this dynamic landscape. In this report, the authors address the timely issue of AI-powered information warfare in the Indo-Pacific and its implications for regional and global security. Specifically, the authors delve into the appropriate strategies required for an effective near-term response and mitigation of the potential threats. By examining the PRC's tactics, the authors provide an exploration into the future of information warfare in the region and how defense organizations and their partners can adapt and respond to these evolving challenges.