Are The ‘War Porn’ Videos Shared On Social Media Disclosing Too Much?

As the war in Ukraine is set to enter its 15th month, a day rarely goes by without videos recorded on the frontlines being widely shared on social media. The forces of both Moscow and Kyiv continue to employ their respective “war porn” clips that show the destruction of the other side’s tanks, mobile rocket launchers, and other vehicles.

Often times these videos are geotagged that reveal the exact location where an incident occurred. This could also provide the enemy with insight into where particular units may be operating.

This shouldn’t be surprising given how apps such as the Foursquare City Guide have encouraged a generation to “check in” whenever they go out, while it has been common for social media users to regularly announce their movements to the world. Warfighters are now sharing the videos as a form of propaganda.

“Video footage as propaganda is not new. As long as the most basic video technology has existed, videos have been used as propaganda in wartime,” explained Dr. Timothy Sellnow, professor and associate director of Graduate Studies, Research and Creative Activity within the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Florida.

What is novel in Ukraine, however, is the quantity of and access to such videos.

“Anyone with a phone can record and upload a video. Such videos can potentially be shared worldwide within days or even hours,” Sellnow continued. “There is little doubt, therefore, the sharing of such videos as propaganda for both sides of the conflict will continue. Because clandestine operations are conducted under greater supervision and with limited access, videos recorded in covert settings have a greater potential for control. The hope is that such videos shared with the intent of arousing support do not compromise the security of the soldiers they feature as heroes.”

Too Much Information?

As the first “Social Media War,” it would seem that some military units are broadcasting their exploits almost daily, but are they revealing too much? In past wars, military personnel and civilians alike were warned that “Loose Lips Sink Ships,” so could we see warnings about social media?

“It’s hard to say whether posting the videos would put their creator soldiers in harm’s way,” said technology analyst Charles King of Pund-It.

“If the videos were live streamed, the drone pilot’s location might be pinpointed. We saw something analogous to that earlier in the invasion, when the Ukrainians used mobile phone data to target Russian troops and high-ranking officers,” added King. “If the pilots are recording the videos and posting them later, the danger would be minimized.”

However, the videos that are shared, in any context have the potential to reveal information that military leaders might rather keep confidential, suggested Sellnow.

“The audience for such videos is nearly always bigger and more complex than most senders anticipate,” Sellnow continued. “‘Glorification’ videos with geotags pose a known risk. Even with the tags removed, hints at location and individual identities can be leaked through other visual aspects of the content.”

Conversely, such videos can be shared strategically for purposes of misdirection by strategically providing “disinformation” intended to mislead enemy forces, Sellnow further noted.

Psychological Warfare Via Social Media

In addition, such content shared online is becoming part of a psychological operation (PSYOP) exercise, showing the death and destruction that was carried out in a recent attack. The invasion of Ukraine was expected to be a three-day affair, and Russian soldiers reportedly arrived with dress uniforms instead of winter clothing after all, so the continued posting of such videos by Ukrainian forces could be used to further damage the morale of the enemy.

These short clips could serve a warning to other enemy combatants.

“‘Look how close we were, and you didn’t even notice,'” suggested King. By contrast, the Kremlin could use such videos to reinforce the message to Ukraine’s fighters that “you can’t win.”

Another factor is that the videos are much like the old “written up in dispatches” that called out particular actions by a soldier or unit. In this case, the individual teams are making sure their exploits are getting recognition.

“If the drones are used to carry out actual attacks, they provide ‘Gotcha!’ bragging rights,” King suggested.

Censoring the Content?

As these videos do highlight each side’s respective successes, it is unlikely that either Russia or Ukraine would completely curb their use. However, it is possible we could see some efforts to censor some details – perhaps limiting the use of tags that identify a particular unit, as an example.

“Censoring ‘glorification’ videos is feasible, but, again, subtle clues about location based on topography or even what censors choose to blur or remove can be signs to sophisticated analysts of where the video was recorded,” said Sellnow. “Thus, even videos censored with care can have unintended revelations.”