Weaponizing Information Systems for Political Disruption

Today, information systems are regularly weaponized for political disruption. This threat now encompasses electoral processes, given their increasing dependence on information systems both directly and indirectly. The chapter elaborates on a framing devise—ALERT (the Actors, Levers, Effects, and Response Taxonomy)—to study how information systems can be manipulated and the associated set of responses to such manipulation. Illustrative examples of election interference are provided to guide the reader through the ALERT framework in the foreign election interference context. Through the description of the ALERT framework and the copious examples reported, the chapter concludes by underlining the importance of a clear understanding of the dynamics related to the Actors involved in information warfare, the Levers used, the Effects in the political and, specifically, electoral fields as a tool for obtaining appropriate Responses in the fight against weaponization for political disruption.