Through a freedom of information request, a media outlet found evidence that the Australian government plans to engage in offensive cyber operations when in military conflict.
In a Monday article, The Sydney Morning Herald revealed the news, which was gleaned from recently declassified Australian Defence Force(ADF) documents – an “Information Activities” doctrine approved by government officials last November.
According to the newspaper, the government said it would use cyber warfare in future military operations as a means thwarting or disrupting the efforts of adversaries.
Cyber warfare might include the "manipulation, distortion, or falsification of evidence” by targeting the enemy's information systems, the Herald said, quoting the doctrine.
“Offensive measures to be employed by the ADF against adversaries include ‘computer network operations' – otherwise known as cyber warfare – which are defined to include attacks on and exploitation of information and data networks,” the article said.
