By Theresa Hitchens on March 16, 2021 at 2:02 PM WASHINGTON: A “recently signed” Defense Intelligence Strategy prioritizes countering Russian and Chinese disinformation, including providing more timely information to Combatant Commanders to support their efforts, says Neill Tipton, director for Defense Intelligence, Collection and Special Programs. Further, he told the House Armed Services subcommittee on intelligence and special operations, DoD and the IC plan to complete an effort to declassify information about adversary information-warfare activities by September in order to bolster the military’s ability to respond. “Adversary use of disinformation, misinformation and propaganda poses one of today’s greatest challenges to the United States, not just to the Department of Defense,” said Chris Maier, acting assistant defense secretary for special operations and low intensity conflict, at the hearing. “Russia and China, as well as non-state actors, understand that in today’s information environment, they have real time access to a global audience that with first mover advantage, and by flooding the information environment with deliberately manipulated information that is mostly truthful with carefully crafted deceptive elements, these actors can gain leverage to threaten our interests.”