UK Sets Up Internet-Savvy Army Unit

An anonymous reader sends word that the UK Army is establishing a dedicated unit for fighting wars in the information age. The 77th Brigade will specialize in non-lethal, psychological operations that involve the internet and social media. The army says it's learned through its operations in Afghanistan that there are fights to be won not just on the battlefield, but online as well. "In some senses it's defensive - trying to present the case from this side against opponents who hold many of the cards. We've seen with Islamic State, its incredible capability on the net, Facebook, Instagram and all the rest." The new unit will "try to influence local populations and change behavior through what the Army calls traditional and unconventional means." The army also stressed that they're looking for ways that citizens with the right skills could work alongside the 77th Brigade.

Comments

Re:Why bother?

[Skidborg]

That strategy is what's losing Israel the fight in Gaza and the West Bank. For every enemy combatant they kill their opponents gain international sympathy as the downtrodden underdogs because every bomb builder is working alongside a guy with a camera and a tale to spin.