In today’s information environment, manipulation isn’t an anomaly—it’s a strategy. Individuals, media organizations, and foreign governments all shape information to influence what people believe, how they behave, and where their attention goes. Some do it for profit, some for power, and others simply to push a narrative that benefits their interests.
For investigators, this creates a landscape where truth competes with tailored falsehoods, emotional triggers, and engineered narratives designed to bypass critical thinking. Misinformation, disinformation, and narratives created for psychological operations thrive and spread rapidly because they exploit the cognitive shortcuts we all rely on.
This talk breaks down why actors manipulate information, the incentives that drive them, and the tactics they use to distort perception at scale. More importantly, it highlights the awareness and analytical discipline investigators need to recognize these influence efforts before they shape conclusions, contaminate evidence, or derail an inquiry. Modern influence operations aren’t just about lying—they’re about steering. Investigators who understand the playbook are far better equipped to stay ahead of it.
