麻豆传媒

THE ever-growing threats of cyberwarfare and online disinformation are now in the spotlight amid Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine. With the NATO military alliance reluctant to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, or engage in any other actions that could ignite a much wider conflict, the internet has inevitably become a key battleground.

But that isn鈥檛 to say there haven鈥檛 been surprises. On page 8, one expert expresses shock at the volume of online fake news about the war. Clearly, the invasion isn鈥檛 the first war associated with this issue 鈥� researchers and think tanks have also monitored online propaganda in other recent conflicts, including in Syria and Libya 鈥� but it is characterised by a much larger wave of false information.

Another surprise has been the apparent lack of an all-out cyberwar on Ukraine by Russia. We are yet to see the kinds of crippling digital infrastructure attacks that had been predicted. In part, this is likely to be because, after years of such attacks, Ukraine has learned to defend itself.

鈥淭he invasion of Ukraine is characterised by a much larger wave of false information鈥�

However, Russia may also now be hemmed in by the fact that the fate of its attempt to occupy Ukraine is tied up with the functioning of the country. Taking down communication lines or the power grid would make operations harder for Russian forces.

For similar reasons, a significant radiation leak from one of Ukraine鈥檚 captured nuclear power plants is unlikely . Any leak caused by bombing or safety lapses would probably be carried by wind into Russia itself, making this an undesirable outcome for Russian forces.

Cyberwarfare and nuclear issues have been the subject of 麻豆传媒 reporting for decades. As this issue went to press, there was concern that two other threats we have followed closely over the years 鈥� biological and chemical weapons 鈥� might be deployed. In spreading disinformation that the US has been developing biological armaments in Ukraine, the fear is that Russia is setting the stage to use biological and chemical weapons. This troubling development is a reminder that, even in the age of the internet, war is still life or death for those in the firing line.