The Digital Force Protection (DFP) team serves as the integrator of civilian and military research, addressing force protection and operational
security concerns for both units and individuals, with a particular focus on commercial surveillance and the digital economy. We leverage partnerships
with military and civilian researchers, lawmakers, and practitioners, transcending traditional boundaries to synthesize interdisciplinary research.
This collaborative effort informs Army decisions and shapes emerging policy and doctrine, supporting a comprehensive national approach to privacy and
security.
The widespread collection of commercial data in every facet of daily life poses significant national security risks. Ubiquitous Technical
Surveillance (UTS) refers to the continuous data gathering from sensors embedded in websites, smartphone applications, home appliances, vehicles,
and more. This data, which can include geolocation, personally identifiable information (PII), personal health information (PHI), preferences, and
religious beliefs, is often utilized for marketing within the broader “surveillance economy.” However, it can also be exploited to target individuals
or organizations.
To navigate this evolving landscape, our team conducts interdisciplinary research and provides advisement to the Army on matters of online force
protection, privacy, commercial surveillance, and the Army’s emerging Information Advantage doctrine.
DFP has several research focus areas, including:
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Commercial Surveillance, Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance, and the Erosion of Privacy: This research area focuses on assessing
and quantifying risks associated with data brokers, evaluating privacy concerns across a wide range of devices, and identifying vulnerabilities
in contracting language. The erosion of privacy through commercial entities is unprecedented today. Devices such as smartphones, smart home
appliances, wearable technology, vehicles, and even personal assistants like smart speakers continuously collect data, including location
information, personal health data, and other sensitive details. This constant data collection, combined with the global nature of data flows
that ignore national boundaries, creates significant challenges in understanding and mitigating risks within the information domain. Our research
aims to evaluate these risks, particularly how they affect privacy, and to develop strategies to protect against them.
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Information Advantage: Our team supports the Cyber Center of Excellence’s Information Advantage Campaign of Learning, including providing
warfighter assessment support to enhance operational capabilities.
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Data privacy and National Security Risks: understand how the commercial surveillance economy and commercial data collection poses
risks to individuals and the force. Assess privacy enhancing technology and other best practices across different academic disciplines.
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Narrative Warfare: Understanding the tactics, techniques and processes that malign actors leverage culturally significant stories
to elicit an emotional response and behavioral change. Information Advantage Campaign of Learning – understanding what problem the Army is
trying to solve with Information Advantage and help shape the future implementation of DOTML-PFP solutions.
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Historic and Legal Aspects of Information Warfare: The intersection of the history of cyber espionage, adversarial tactics, techniques,
and procedures, with social media the extent to which information manipulation amounts to an unlawful intervention into the affairs of another
State (nation) in violation of international law.
DFP has several research focus areas, including:
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Commercial Data Report
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Vehicle Privacy Project
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Social Media & Influence
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Smartphone App Research
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Biometrics
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AdTech, Microtargeting, and Commercial Surveillance