Are you curious about the impact of fake news and influence operations on elections? Are you concerned about the vulnerability of democratic institutions, the media, and civil society? Then come engage with your peers and the first US National Intelligence Officer for Cyber Issues on ways to hack democracy. He will: (1) provide a low-tech, strategic analysis of recent events, foreign intelligence threats, and the future of information warfare; (2) lead a Socratic dialogue with attendees about the trade-offs between national security and core democratic values (such as freedom, equality, and privacy); and (3) open the floor to audience questions and/or a moderated group debate.
This session is intended to be informal and participatory. It will cover a range of issues from supply chain attacks on voting machines to psychological operations by using an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses constitutional law, world history, game theory, social engineering, and international affairs. The discussion will occur against the backdrop of cyber security and critical infrastructure protection, but it will not examine any specific hardware or software systems; rather, it will concern the conceptual formulation and conduct of modern strategic influence campaigns. No specific knowledge is required, but a skeptical mind and mischievous intellect are a must.