Memetic Warfare: Spreading Weaponized Ideas for Influence and Control

Protesters, including members of the communist extremist group Antifa, hold signs during an Aug. 12, 2017, protest in Charlottesville, Va. According to a new book, social conflicts are being used by special interest groups and governments to shape narratives and alter public perception. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Russia’s Internet Research Agency was recently highlighted in charges from special counsel Robert Mueller for its operations “to interfere with elections and political processes.”

According to a new book, however, the Russian operations are just a small part of a much larger picture. Special interest groups, governments, and big businesses are trying to alter the way we perceive information in order to influence the culture and underlying values of our societies.