Summary 

Cognitive warfare operations exploit information technologies, massive data and cognitive and behavioral sciences to target the mental processes and perceptions of individuals and societies. By going far beyond traditional battlefields, this strategy aims to alter thoughts and inhibit decision-making. It manipulates perceptions, induces cognitive biases and influences social behavior. 

The coordinated use of tactics in immaterial fields (cyberspace, cognitive and electromagnetic fields) and informational attacks enables offensive actors to gain a definite influence on public opinion, through irregular operations. 

With increasing flows of information, narratives, technological tools endowed with « artificial intelligence » and non-kinetic weapons, today's conflicts are taking place in « gray zones » . These hybrid confrontations are redefining national security issues and posing unprecedented challenges to democracies. It is therefore essential to adopt anti-fragile strategies and cognitive resilience in the face of asymmetric warfare. 

Keywords : 

Cognitive warfare, Reflexive control, Psychological influence, Cognitive fields, Cognitive and informational superiority, Alteration of thoughts and perceptions, Asymmetric warfare, Irregular warfare