Digital Literacy and Resilience against Disinformation among NATO Military Personnel

This article examines the digital literacy and resilience to disinformation among NATO military personnel, with a particular focus on the emerging challenges related to social media and search engine platforms. By analysing data collected in 2019 and comparing it to findings from a 2023 survey, the research identifies key trends in social media engagement, the capacity to recognize disinformation, and the strategies used to evaluate the credibility of online content. The results demonstrate that while a substantial proportion of military personnel actively use social media, there remains a significant deficiency in their ability to critically assess and verify the authenticity of the information they encounter. The study underscores the ongoing risks that disinformation poses to NATO’s information security framework and stresses the urgent need for comprehensive digital literacy training programmes. The recommendations suggest implementing mandatory training to enhance critical thinking and analytical skills regarding information, alongside the development of specialized teams within NATO military structures dedicated to monitoring and combating disinformation.