Weaponizing Misinformation and Cyberattacks on Supply Chains

This chapter examines the convergence of cyberattacks and weaponized misinformation as dual threats to global supply chains. It explores how disinformation campaigns, particularly via social media, can distort consumer behavior, incite panic buying, and trigger artificial shortages that destabilize logistics networks. An integrated analytical framework is presented, combining the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model to simulate the spread of false information with a multi-commodity network flow model to assess its economic and physical impacts. Using Sweden's multi-commodity rail network as a case study, the chapter demonstrates how targeted misinformation can cause widespread disruption across interconnected supply chains. It concludes by proposing countermeasures such as real-time disinformation detection, enhanced supply chain resilience, and stronger collaboration between public and private sectors.