Weaponising the Mind: Rethinking Trust in Times of Cognitive Warfare [Panel-Munich Security Forum]

Curator note

Modern conflicts are no longer confined to land, sea, air, space, or cyberspace – they increasingly unfold in the human mind. Cognitive Warfare targets perception, trust, and decision-making by blending psychological operations, strategic communication, and AI-driven technologies. From orchestrated influence campaigns to micro-targeted narratives, it seeks to divide societies, erode shared reality, and blur the line between war and peace, affecting both military and civilian populations.

This panel explores how Cognitive Warfare marks a profound shift in modern conflict and what it means for liberal democracies. With perspectives from politics, the military, and expert communities, it examines where such tactics have been deployed, how doctrines are adapting, and how education, technology, and policy can strengthen cognitive resilience and strategic advantage.