Cognitive warfare aims to blur line between truth and falsehood, says Khaled

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysia's Defence Minister, has warned that cognitive warfare is a threat that goes beyond merely spreading false information. Instead, it's about eroding people's ability to discern truth from falsehood, said Khaled during his opening remarks at Siber Siaga 2026. In his speech, Khaled emphasized that the objective of cognitive warfare has shifted from spreading fake news to undermining our capacity to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

This, he argued, is facilitated by the advancements in digital technology and artificial intelligence, which enable adversaries to tailor information and deception to specific groups or individuals. Khaled also highlighted that these threats are challenging to trace, as they may originate from domestic or foreign sources, and can involve state or non-state actors, including small groups or individuals.

The Malaysian Defence Minister further underscored the growing complexity and seriousness of cyber threats, stating that they can now target critical infrastructure such as airports, seaports, power grids, transportation networks, banking systems, healthcare facilities, and internet connectivity. The disruption of these systems, Khaled explained, can rapidly escalate into a national crisis when what begins as an invisible attack takes physical form.

He cited the example of a cyberattack on three major UK airports in August, which exposed the personal data of 8.7 million passengers, to illustrate the far-reaching consequences of cyberattacks even without causing physical damage. Khaled also pointed out that technology has accelerated the speed at which military decisions are made, often compressing the time available to understand events and respond.

This, he stressed, necessitates that commanders and operators understand the capabilities and limitations of the systems they use, while maintaining clear human responsibility and accountability throughout the chain of command. Despite the advancements in technology, Khaled stressed that Malaysia must focus on strengthening testing, assurance, and resilience to ensure missions can continue when technology is disrupted or degraded.

He concluded by emphasizing that cyber incidents can do more than just disrupt systems; they can also affect the decisions commanders make, the options they have, and the outcomes of those decisions.