Jeff Rogg sits down with Tom Spahr to explore the “intelligence revolution” and its profound impact on the battlefield and our daily lives. This is more than new gadgets; it is a fundamental shift in how technology like cell phones and AI transforms the relationship between the state and its citizens.
While we often view spying as something targeting “the other guy,” Rogg explains how our constant digital footprint makes everyone part of the intelligence landscape. In modern conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, a single soldier’s cell phone can inadvertently become a targeting beacon. Beyond physical safety, “cognitive warfare” remains a growing concern, as data is increasingly used to manipulate public opinion and personal worldviews.
While we often think of spying as something that happens to ‘the other guy,’ our constant digital footprint makes us part of the intelligence landscape.
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Jeff Rogg, JD, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute. Previously, he was an assistant professor at the Joint Special Operations University and The Citadel. He was also a postdoctoral fellow in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College. Jeff’s book, The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence, was published by Oxford University Press in June 2025.
Thomas W. Spahr is the DeSerio Chair of Strategic and Theater Intelligence at the U.S. Army War College. He is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army and holds a Ph.D. in History from The Ohio State University. He teaches courses at the Army War College on Military Campaigning and Intelligence.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of War.
Photo Credit: Created by Gemini