The West in the information and cognitive war must move from constant defense to offense, said Janis Sarts, director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, at the "Riga StratCom Dialogue" conference on Wednesday.
In his opinion, the West has once again reinforced its image as a side that is always on the defensive; however, just like in traditional armed conflict, without initiative it is impossible to achieve dynamics, and the side that lacks it becomes more vulnerable.
He acknowledged that there are ethical, moral, and legal aspects, while also emphasizing that the ability to go on the offensive in the next decade will be of significant importance if necessary.
Sarts characterized technology as the main driving force behind new opportunities and risks in the information space. According to him, at some point, a model will emerge that can "hack the human mind" as easily as software can be hacked today, and the West must be among the first to use such tools in accordance with democratic principles and its value system.
A conference organized by the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence is taking place in Riga on Wednesday and Thursday.
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