What if the real frontline of modern conflict isn’t on the battlefield, but in the minds and screens of everyday people?

In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, Peter Apps is joined by Simon Paterson, former British Army Intelligence officer and head of strategic partnerships at Boone Global, and Margot Fulda-Hardy, investigator at Graphica and ex-French government official. Together, they unpack the evolving world of information operations - from Russia’s hybrid tactics post-Crimea to China’s sophisticated influence campaigns - exploring how AI, social media, and state actors are reshaping global narratives, sowing division, and challenging democracies.

What You’ll Learn

The AI Supercharge: How large language models and autonomous tools are amplifying disinformation volume and sophistication, from poisoning narratives to fully automated campaigns.

State Actor Playbooks: Insights into Russia’s aggressive hybrid warfare and China’s subtler, network-driven approaches targeting diaspora communities and global perceptions.

Building Defences: Why cross-sector partnerships, rapid fact-checking, and societal resilience are key to countering manipulation without eroding free speech.

This conversation highlights that in an era of cognitive warfare, awareness and collaboration aren’t just tools, they’re essential shields for safeguarding truth and stability.

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.