Strategies to Tackle Disinformation: Operationalizing Zero Trust

Abstract

Disinformation is now acknowledged as one of the leading threats to global security. Although trust is a central foundation in the take-up of disinformation and in its resulting loss of trust, little is known about the mechanisms of trust. In response, this conceptual paper first reviews a specific strand of trust and distrust literature from management, organization and conflict management studies models to attempt to disentangle the trust issue in disinformation. The method employed was based on a purposive literature review. This approach allowed generating a deep understanding of the foundational literature, in the context of understanding trust in disinformation and a transformative approach from cybersecurity zero trust as a potential solution to operationalize the aims of this research. Drawing from the emerging findings from the review, the paper then proposed leveraging zero trust as a tactic to counter disinformation. Although the limitations of a purposive literature review approach are acknowledged, calls for further research and action are presented thereby helping bridge potential methodological issues. The contribution of this paper presents an early-stage framework setting out the key tactics involved in operationalizing and achieving a zero trust mindset to safeguard against disinformation. Key implications for government, defense practitioners, academics and stakeholder communities are discussed.