The use of disinformation by states and intelligence agencies to undermine their enemies and political rivals has become commonplace in recent years. Hacked emails, fake websites, and doctored photos and messages are now weapons for spies and government operatives globally.
But these digital dark arts are no longer solely the providence of the espionage world. Indeed, "Dark PR," as it’s called, is increasingly infecting corporate competitions and legal struggles. And executives at the C-Suite level need to be able to identify gathering disinformation campaigns targeting their operations and quickly move to neutralize them.
Ignoring early warning signs of Dark PR can be fatal to a company or business. The ultimate design of a disinformation operation isn’t easily discernible. Some may have short-term goals, like impacting litigations or a corporate takeover. But some can have longer-term strategic goals, such as undermining a company’s ability to raise capital or launch an IPO. Nothing should be discounted.
