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Vulnerability of Authoritarian Regimes: Capitalizing on Space Internet to Obtain Strategic Edge

Over the course of three decades, China has been progressively enhancing its military capabilities to exploit weaknesses in the U.S. defense system. This approach concentrates on threats against aircraft carriers, satellites, front-line air bases, and command centers to potentially hinder or...

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China's military modernization, over the past three decades, has centered on crafting a competitive...
China's military modernization, over the past three decades, has centered on crafting a competitive approach that exploits the weak points of the US armed forces. This strategy involves the capability to assault crucial components such as aircraft carriers, satellites, forward air bases, and command-control facilities. The objective is to hamper or prevent US intervention in a potential regional conflict by deterring such actions. This tactic has led to the development of a variety of destructive capabilities.

Vulnerability of Authoritarian Regimes: Capitalizing on Space Internet to Obtain Strategic Edge

In a reimagined approach to competition, the US can seize the advantage by shifting the focus from reacting to China's military modernization to exploiting its vulnerabilities. The US military's conception of engaging in "actions designed to shift the focus of strategic competition into areas that favor U.S. interests" presents a path forward.

With the technological revolution, space-based internet is becoming a game-changer in this bid. Currently, space-based internet can be accessed through mobile devices, bypassing national borders and the censorship imposed by authoritarian regimes.

China spends a fortune on implementing and maintaining censorship mechanisms, while efforts to counter critical voices there are met with swift penalties, including imprisonment. In contrast, Western democracies have relatively little investment in such endeavors, rendering them less susceptible to informational effects.

By providing space-based, uncensored internet to authoritarian regimes, the US can fundamentally alter the information landscape. These regimes are already straining to keep their citizens away from foreign information, and this technological development favors dissemination over suppression.

To capitalize on this shift, US policy makers can employ the following tactics:

  1. Activate/deactivate internet access within a target region, allowing populations to self-govern information sharing.
  2. Distribute targeted messaging that counters adversary disinformation.
  3. Reinforce the cooperative mutual benefits of the rules-based international order.
  4. Foster an image of partnership between American people and oppressed populations.
  5. Promote human rights values, specifically Article 19, which emphasizes the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and logical extensions like the right to peaceful assembly and association, freedom of thought, and the right to participate in government.
  6. Show evidence of leaders' actions against populace interests.
  7. Deliver criticisms of leaders, calling for accountability.
  8. Encourage or enable peaceful protest and reform.

Initially, these tactics may not yield immediate results, as not everyone might be open to foreign messaging. However, authoritarian competitors are bound to respond to these informational attacks, amplifying the costs they must bear and refocusing the competition on areas that weaken their foundations.

China's and Russia's attempts to influence American public opinion highlight the threat and utility of the informational weapon. While democracies face a barrage of information, both true and false, this inflow creates an innate resilience against major informational effects. Authoritarian regimes, too, fear this exposure, making it a vital point of vulnerability for the US to exploit.

In terms of technological feasibility, providing space-based internet access primarily requires a constellation of satellites, costing between $1 billion and $15 billion initially. Over time, as these devices shrink in size and become more affordable, distribution becomes increasingly achievable. The policing of this technology by authoritarian regimes will prove difficult, as small, portable devices can be easily smuggled.

It's worth noting that providing space-based, uncensored internet access is a challenging endeavor due to strong opposition from authoritarian regimes. To facilitate this, efforts could be made to reestablish the US Information Agency or assign this role to the US military, the only government entity adept at conducting information warfare with the required competitive mindset.

The strategic benefits of this expanded form of information warfare are substantial, as it wears down the remaining resolve of authoritarian governments. It promises to inflict economic costs, shift the focus of competition to areas where oppressive regimes have lasting weaknesses, and reshape the global balance of power.

  1. The US military's new strategy involves shifting the focus from reacting to China's military modernization to exploiting its vulnerabilities, including vulnerabilities in information control.
  2. With the technological revolution, space-based internet is becoming a significant tool in this bid, enabling bypassing national borders and censorship imposed by authoritarian regimes.
  3. By providing space-based, uncensored internet to authoritarian regimes, the US can fundamentally alter the information landscape, favoring dissemination over suppression and potentially weakening the foundations of these regimes.
  4. To capitalize on this shift, US policy makers could employ tactics such as activating/deactivating internet access, distributing targeted messaging, promoting human rights values, and encouraging peaceful protest and reform, among others.

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