Information: Bothnia

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Bothnia has a highly developed telecommunications infrastructure for fixed‐line, mobile‐cellular, Internet and broadband penetration. The Bothnian Information systems are driven by the requirement to provide the audience, both international and national, with the utopian Bothnian view of “Political Stability, Legitimation and Succession”.

Satellite Telecommunications

Bothnia relies on commercial contracted satellite services and coordinates the use of Donovian satellite telecommunication systems when necessary. The Donovian systems used by Bothnia operate Ku-band transponders and may further be used to support government and military operations.

Navigation

Bothnia does not have its own navigation satellites and utilizes Donovian navigation satellites primarily to support government and military operations. In addition, it also uses off the shelf commercial GPS receivers for navigation support.

Public Communications Media

There are 12 radio stations and two state controlled television channels. For the ruling Socialist Party of Bothnia (SPB), newspapers are part of the campaign to build socialism as defined by the SPB leadership. Thus, the SPB not only attempts to "plan" the news but also to monopolize news sources in an effort to manage public perceptions. All international news, with minor exceptions, is channeled to the press from the country's sole news agency, the National Bothnian Agency (NBA), which is under the direction of the Press Office of the Council of Ministers.

The international trend of diversification of news sources has dramatically increased since the internet was introduced; this has caused a headache for the Bothnian leadership. The Bothnian authorities constantly strive to contain the open source nature of the internet, while enabling an element of openness in print media. Pressure continues in the European market to move towards a free and open-access Internet. Bothnians use several media sources for information, with TV used a source by 90%, newspapers 45%, internet 45% and radio 15%.

Internet

Approximately 70% of the population have access to the internet in Bothnia. Although the Bothnian Government makes strenuous efforts to curtail the influence of the Internet and the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are prohibited. The Internet does provide another means for news to be distributed which circumvents the accepted media norms. Many of these new information outfits collaborate with traditional news organizations, taking advantage of their broad reach and trusted established brands. This external intervention is seen as a major threat to SPB control and the State continues efforts to control this median.

Internet censorship in Bothnia is conducted under a wide variety of laws and administrative regulations. In accordance with these laws, the government enacted more than sixty Internet regulations and censorship systems that are vigorously implemented by provincial branches of state‐owned ISPs, business companies, and organizations. Between July 2009 and August 2010 all PCs were required to be pre-installed with Green Dam software. On 14 August 2010, it was announced that computer manufacturers and retailers were no longer obliged to ship the software with new computers for home or business use, but that schools, internet cafes and other public use computers would still be required to run the software; this is still true today.

Green Dam. The official line on Green Dam is that its objective was "To build a green, healthy, and harmonious online environment, and to avoid the effects on and the poisoning of our youth's minds by harmful information on the internet". A senior official of the Bureau of Communications of the MfCS said the software's only purpose was "to filter pornography on the Internet". A Foreign ministry official, said the internet had always been open in Bothnia and that the government's administration of it to prevent the spread of harmful information was in accordance with the law. The general manager of the company which developed Green Dam, said: "Our software is simply not capable of spying on Internet users, it is only a filter." On 10 June, the Press Office of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers issued an instruction requiring the Bothnian media to stop publishing questioning or critical opinions. The instruction also required online forums to promptly block and remove "offensive speech evolved from the topic."

The escalation of the government's effort to neutralize critical online opinion comes after a series of protests, many of which were organized or publicized using instant messaging services, chat rooms, and text messages. The size of the Internet “police” in the Ministry for Constitutional Security (MfCS) is rumored at more than 2,500. Critical comments appearing on Internet forums, blogs, and major portals usually are erased within minutes.

The apparatus of the BDR's Internet repression is considered more extensive and more advanced than in any other country in the world. The regime not only blocks website content but also monitors the Internet access of individuals. Amnesty International notes that Bothnia “has a large number of imprisoned journalists and cyber‐ dissidents.” Their offenses include communicating with groups abroad, signing online petitions, and calling for reform and an end to corruption.

Cyberspace. There are two layers, physical and the ethereal. The physical is the geography of the computers, servers (interconnected by wires, fiber optics, transmitters and satellites). The ethereal (radio waves) involves computers, mobile cell phones and sensors. Bothnia has an extensive structure and capability in place. Both the civilian (transportation, public utilities, etc.) and military have cyber security assets to protect networks and computer systems.

In December 1997, the Bureau of Communications of the MfCS released new regulations to be enforced by the ministry that inflict fines for 'defaming government agencies,' 'splitting the nation,' and leaking "state secrets." Violators could face a fine up to the equivalent of USD1,800 or five years in jail. Site banning does not appear to follow any discernible pattern, with some sites blocked, yet similar sites allowed or even blocked in one city and allowed in another. The blocks have often been lifted for special occasions.

Section Five of the Computer Information Network and Internet Security, Protection, and Management Regulations approved by the Council of Ministers in December 1997 states "No unit or individual may use the Internet to create, replicate, retrieve, or transmit the following kinds of information:

·        Inciting to resist or breaking the Constitution or laws or the implementation of administrative regulations;

·        Inciting to overthrow the government or the socialist system;

·        Inciting division of the country, harming national unification;

·        Inciting hatred or discrimination among nationalities or harming the unity of the nationalities;

·        Making falsehoods or distorting the truth, spreading rumors, destroying the order of society;

·        Promoting feudal superstitions, sexually suggestive material, gambling, violence, murder;

·        Terrorism or inciting others to criminal activity; openly insulting other people or distorting the truth to slander people;

·        Injuring the reputation of state organizations;

·        Activities against the Constitution, laws or administrative regulations.

Security. In September 2000, the Council of Ministers Order No. 292 created the first content restrictions for Internet content providers. Under the Ministerial Order, Bothnia based websites cannot link to overseas news Web sites or distribute news from overseas media without separate approval. Only “licensed print publishers” have the authority to deliver news online. Non‐licensed websites that wish to broadcast news may only publish information already released publicly by other official news media. These sites must obtain approval from state information offices and from the Press Office of the Council of Ministers. Article 11 of this order mentions that “content providers are responsible for ensuring the legality of any information disseminated through their services”. Article 14 gives Bothnian officials full access to any kind of sensitive information they wish: “an IIS provider must keep a copy of its records for 60 days and furnish them to the relevant state authorities upon demand in accordance to the law.” Finally, Article 15 defines what information must be restricted: “IIS providers shall not produce, reproduce, release, or disseminate information that: endangers national security, is detrimental to the honor of the state, undermines social stability, the state’s policy towards religion, other information prohibited by the law or administrative regulations”.

Political censorship. Research into Internet censorship reveals that censored websites included:

1.       News sources that often cover some topics such as police brutality, freedom of speech and democracy sites. These sites include Voice of America and the British BBC News.

2.       Media sites which may include unregulated content, social commentary or political commentary censored by the BDR. The Wikipedia and LiveJournal are examples of such blocked sites.

3.       Web sites that contain obscenity, pornography, and criminal activity.

4.       From the above list, the websites of the British BBC News, the Wikipedia and the Voice of America have been blocked/unblocked during major events.

Television

The State Committee for Television of the Council of Ministers and the Bothnian Broadcasting Collective (BBC) has direct responsibility for program output.

There are four television broadcast stations (plus 231 repeaters). On 1 September 2007, Bothnia announced that it would begin conversion to casting all television signals digitally, but analog broadcasts via cable networks would continue until 2014.

After starting on an experimental basis in 1952, television was officially introduced in 1956 under the name Bothnian Broadcasting Collective (BBC). Because the SPB regards all radio and television programs as politically significant, producers, directors, and editors are expected to bear in mind the ultimate purpose of their medium when creating their programs.

Since 1968 television has been under the control of the State Committee for Television of the Council of Ministers. The chairmen and deputy chairmen of these committees are appointed by the chairman of the Council of Ministers. Other members are appointed by the chairmen of the respective committees. The chairman of the State Committee for Television since its inception is a member of the SPB Central Committee.

Television thus promotes awareness of the higher standard of living in the West and provides divergent perspectives on world events. Public surveys have shown that Bothnians are considerably more familiar with western politicians than their own leaders. Since the mid‐1990s, Western television has become an increasingly important source of news about political and economic conditions in Bothnia itself. In late 1991, when Western television journalists were first regularly permitted in Bothnia, they gained quick recognition amongst the populace. Bothnian television thus has gradually moved in the direction of more candid, though still biased, reporting.

Radio

There are 33 radio broadcast stations: two AM, 29 FM, and two shortwave.

The SPB is keenly interested in using radio to influence people abroad and uses Voice of the BDR, directed at Bothnian speakers outside Bothnia, and Radio Brahea International, which broadcasts in numerous foreign languages, for this purpose. External consumers receive news of the world socialist movement,

Western radio broadcasts and programming are received in Bothnia, except for the northern regions, but they are subject to a delay of 30 minutes.

Radio Stations in Bothnia

International Radio	Voice of the BDR
	Radio Brahea
	International
National Radio	Radio Brahea
	Radio Turku
	Radio Vaasa
	Radio Tampere
	Radio Lahti
	Radio Oulu
	Radio Kokkola
	Radio Lappi
	Radio Jyväskylä

Print Media

The NBA has direct responsibility for the print media. There are seven national daily newspapers and 11 provincial papers, which have a total circulation of 3.3 million.

Most items in the two major daily newspapers, the New Bothnia and in The Morning News are credited to NBA.

National newspapers:

• New Bothnia (SPB).
• The Morning News (SPB)
• Tribune (SPB)
• Young Movement (SPB)
• Brahea News.
• Bothnian Democratic News (BDU)
• Social Democrat (SDA)

Provincial newspapers:

• Northern Ostrobothnia Newspaper
• Southern Ostrobothnia Newspaper
• Central Bothnia Newspaper
• Bothnia Proper Newspaper
• Pirkanmaa Newspaper
• South Lappi Newspaper
• Päijänne Tavastia Newspaper
• Tavastia Proper Newspaper
• Uusimaa Newspaper
• Eastern Uusimaa Newspaper
• Åland Islands Newspaper

New Bothnia, in keeping with its function as the mouthpiece of the SPB and the leading daily newspaper of Bothnia, is assigned the best facilities and is one of the few publications to send correspondents abroad. With a circulation of nearly 1 million, it serves as the most authoritative paper. The SPB is also responsible for the leading provincial newspapers.

Each of the other two smaller political parties has a national daily. They are the Bothnian Democratic News (BDU) and the Social Democrat (SDA). These newspapers are not widely known outside the parties they serve. Another paper, the Tribune is the public relations face of the FBTUF and Young Movement, for the YSB. These papers have a much higher circulations than the publications of the two allied parties. The only significant non SPB ‐ controlled daily is the Brahea News (BN).

Bothnian newspapers rely heavily on circulation rather than advertising revenue. The newspapers are essentially state owned, which helps to protect them in difficult times. This has cast new light on a long‐running debate about the politics of journalism: when there are so many sources, does political objectivity become less important? As news reporting becomes more social, participatory, diverse and partisan, it is in many ways returning to the more chaotic, freewheeling and politically charged environment of the era before the emergence of mass media in the 19th Century. The direction laid down through the National Bothnian Agency will seek to restrain any independence of editorial or journalistic politics other than the party line. The idea that journalists should be impartial in reporting news is a relatively recent one. These days’ different countries have different preferences. In Bothnia overt partisanship in newspapers is widespread and state‐run television channels often have partisan allegiances.

Telephone

The telephone system is modern and efficient. There are 1.65 million main lines users and 6.83 million mobile phones in circulation. Submarine cables provide links to other Gulf of Bothnia countries and Europe. Bothnia has access to the satellite Inmarsat earth station which it shares with the other GBCC countries (Torrike, Framland, and Arnland). The Bothnian communications market is characterized by rapidly increasing data traffic. The growth in the total number of computers and third‐generation mobile phones is reflected in the total number of broadband connections and extensive mobile‐cellular network.

Postal/Courier

Postal services have long been recognized as essential to the smooth functioning of the economy and society as a whole. This is reflected in the universal service obligation and other such safeguards for the interests of users.

E‐commerce and e‐government generate a significant demand for postal services in fulfillment of the very transactions initiated electronically, e.g. delivery of goods purchased over the internet, renewal of vehicle licenses, and other government required actions on line. Research also suggests that promotion of goods and services on the internet is more successful if complemented by direct mail, rather than used as a single media. Not only is there convergence between electronic and physical communications, but their continuing development seems to go hand in glove.

The traditional competencies of postal operators were in sorting and delivery. Developments in the ICT sector now make it more efficient in many instances for the customer to undertake sorting as part of mail preparation rather than to pay a postal operator to do it. The business model of most new entrants to the postal sector takes account of this change. Door to door delivery of letters and Direct Mail items will continue for the foreseeable future but new ways of delivering more valuable items, such as goods ordered over the internet, or legal documents requiring proof of delivery are already emerging. Kiosks accessible 24/7 and collection points at gas stations / convenience stores with delivery advice by email or SMS are just some of the options currently in use around the world.

Word of Mouth

Word-of-mouth is an important communications medium, especially in rural Bothnia. With mobile technology gradually reaching rural areas, younger generations will likely displace word-of-mouth with social media services; as mobile subscriber numbers grow, traditional word-of-mouth channels typically becomes less prevalent.

Information Control

Because the SPB controls all aspects of public life, it can plan headlines in advance. Anniversaries are a typical case, particularly special anniversaries such as the establishment of the People's Police, the Bothnian People's Army, civil defense services and border police. Similar considerations apply to historical events, such as the establishment of the Bothnian state and the SPB. Preplanned congresses, visits by foreign politicians or by Bothnian politicians abroad and armed force maneuvers are standard topics for Bothnian media consumers. The single most important subject covered is the economy and progress on the current Five Year Plan.

Bothnia is a highly censored and tightly controlled state. The Ministry for Constitutional Security (MfCS) operates an internal communications network from the Bothnian government. The ministry also culls government information from public media and conducts counterespionage measures to secure lines against tapping devices. Surveillance of foreign diplomats, foreign residents and occasional travelers is conducted by the same Ministry. Like Bothnian citizens, foreigners in Bothnia are subject to strict monitoring and arrest.

The main regulatory agency is the Council of Ministers. The Press Office is responsible to the Council of Ministers for all information outputs to both the international and national audiences.

The Bothnian Political establishment has raised the importance of information security during the past decade. Information security in Bothnia is regarded as a complex of organizational and technical measures. The MfCS is primarily responsible for information security within the country in cooperation with MoD, and responsible for the practical implementation of legislation and strategy development concerning information security in communications networks. The State Classification Act defines roles and responsibilities of various state agencies with regards to information security including classification, handling, archiving of information, data ownership, definition of security levels and control.

INFOWAR

Bothnia defines information warfare (INFOWAR) as specifically planned and integrated actions to achieve an information advantage at critical points and times. The goal is to influence an enemy’s decision-making cycle through collected and available information, information systems, and information-based processes, while retaining the ability to employ friendly information and information-based processes and systems. Bothnia has a robust INFOWAR capability.

Electronic Warfare

Bothnia continues to upgrade its EW capabilities with the acquisition of updated and more modern equipment from Donovia. Bothnia maintains a variety of sensors and jammers on ground and air assets, and is slowly increasing these capacities to counter those used by the more advanced militaries in the region. Training of personnel on EW assets is continuous to keep up with new advancements as they are identified.

Computer Attack

Bothnia is transitioning from a defense-only cyber strategy, to one that includes a cyber-attack capability in retaliation to the increased number of cyber-attacks by regional competitors over the past couple of years, mainly directed against the Bothnian government. To build this new capability, the government is currently training new personnel to counter the ever changing dynamics of cyber warfare. Bothnia may also outsource activities to third-party entities to deny any knowledge of such events.

Information Attack

Bothnia’s capability for information attack (IA) has increased over the past five years by integrating this capability with other INFOWAR elements, and will rely on IA in a conflict against enemies that are equal or slightly more advanced in this area. Bothnia will use these capabilities not only on the battlefield, but also in the homeland of their opponents.

Deception

Bothnia upholds emphasis on battlefield deception. Bothnia will likely uses decoys to great effect, and tactically will use feints and other techniques to prevent the determination of the main effort by their adversaries until the last minute. Bothnian recent defense procurement and training has emphasized the acquisition of the updated reconnaissance and deception techniques and tools to improve their capability at executing deception operations.

Physical Destruction

As Bothnia continues to modernize its military, it will target high value targets such as enemy INFOWAR assets and capabilities.  Bothnia will use assets such as artillery, rockets, strike aircraft and special purpose forces to conduct operations to enable freedom of movement and protection from enemy targeting operations.

Protection and Security Measures

Due to close relations with Donovia, Bothnian protection and security measures (PSM) resemble Donovian PSM, along with additional capabilities derived from some home-grown capability. A high-technology capability from its expatriate Bothnians working abroad and combined with significant foreign education among the population, Bothnia should be able to utilize a significant and effective war-time PSM effort.

Perception Management

Bothnia can craft a variety of excellent messages, especially for external audiences, due to the large number of citizens who reside in foreign countries. Bothnia will either attempt to appear neutral in any regional conflict or to be a victim of regional neighbor aggression. The Bothnians, however, are expected to downplay their links with Donovia or Otso. Perception management is seen an art form in Bothnia; the State has mastered the skill on it's own populous and relishes the opportunity to alter perceptions of both its adversaries and the wider international community.

Intelligence

The Ministry for Constitutional Security (MfCS) is responsible for internal and external security and intelligence of Bothnia. It is the most powerful and repressive organizations in the country. MfCS is a specialized structure for counterintelligence and security. Its chief responsibility is to detect, prevent and neutralize the threats to the Bothnian national security. It was established to be the SPB's “sword and shield” and since then has created a ruthless reputation which is extremely loyal to the Secretary General of the SPB. The MfCS maintains a comprehensive network of informants, agents, and military‐trained secret police. Their operations focus on political security and espionage, both domestically and abroad. It has powers considered beyond what would be considered acceptable legal practice.

The organization’s main charge is preserving the socialist regime in Bothnia through clandestine operations. The MfCS operates as a state agency under a special decree by the State Council of Bothnia and internal regulations that have not been made public. The MfCS utilizes the whole spectrum of available counterintelligence means and resources.

The MfCS intent is to carry out intelligence, counterintelligence and protection of the state secrets in order to ensure the survival of the Bothnian Socialist State.

Bothnian State Security Service (BoSSS). It is a specialized structure for counterintelligence and security. Its chief responsibility is to detect, prevent and neutralize the threats to the Bothnian national security. BoSSS operates as a state agency under a special decree by the State Council of Bothnia and internal regulations that have not been made public. BoSSS utilizes the whole spectrum of available counter‐intelligence means and resources.

State Secretariat for Intelligence and Security Coordinating. It is an administration of the MfCS that coordinates and deconflicts the activities of the security and intelligence services within the MfCS.

Human Intelligence

Bothnia considers their Human Intelligence (HUMINT) program one of the most important disciplines, and is well established and trained. The program focuses on internal security and external threats from regional nations. The high level of interest that the region maintains in Bothnian defense and diplomatic circles, it is reasonable to assess high activity of HUMINT activities in the area. The Bothnian State Security Service (BoSSS) counterintelligence service focuses on threats from external agencies seeking to acquire information on government and military forces, as well as major industrial companies. The BoSSS is responsible for domestic clandestine operations against foreign governments and corporations residing in Bothnia.  These operations normally consist of wire-taps, video surveillance and casual discussions to acquire information on selective fields or categories. Bothnian HUMINT activities conducted by the armed services are mainly at the operational and tactical levels, but may include military attachés at Bothnian embassies abroad.

Open Source Intelligence

Bothnian open source intelligence (OSINT) efforts generally focus on regional rivals as well as the major world powers. Bothnian intelligence likely uses OSINT for strategic analysis efforts, versus those at operational or tactical levels. Analysts utilize the power of the internet to obtain key information on other nations, from multiple sources, to exploit vulnerabilities and advancements of militaries and industrial companies. OSINT’s general low cost represents a bargain for Bothnian policy makers.

Signals Intelligence

Bothnian signals intelligence (SIGINT) assets include ground and aircraft collection platforms. Although Bothnia has Tier 2-3 SIGINT capabilities, it continues to research and upgrade these capabilities to remain ahead of its foes. These assets are scattered throughout the country and focused on internal as well as external threats. Compared to other major powers of the world, Bothnia focuses more on their regional competitors that pose a threat to their national security.

Imagery Intelligence

Bothnian imagery intelligence (IMINT) collection capability maintains a fleet of manned and unmanned platforms for strategic and tactical collection. UAVs are utilized as a tactical collection platform along its borders and in support of maritime security and interdiction operations. Fixed and rotary wing assets are used as collection platforms. To further supplement its IMINT requirements, Bothnia purchases commercial imagery from other countries to further identify threats to their national security.

Measurement and Signatures Intelligence

Bothnia does not have a measurement and signatures intelligence (MASINT) capability and relies on third party countries for any such information.