Personal security of combatants in the digital world

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. Modern society is at the stage of active implementation of digital technologies in various spheres of life. In addition to a number of undoubful advantages, the emergence of new digital products and services, and the integration of individuals into digital reality are creating cyber threats and challenges to society and the state. Digital reality is of particular importance for representatives of law enforcement agencies, determining the security of the individual and the specifics of psychological support during combat operations. Objective. The aim is to systematize the areas of ensuring the security of the identity of combatants in the digital world, presented in modern foreign publications. Methods. The study was conducted by meta-analysis of publications presented in 26 sources. The following methods were used: semantic analysis and systematization of information. The results allowed us to identify the areas of publication activity that are of the greatest interest to foreign specialists. Among them: psychological assessment, monitoring and forecasting of cyber threats and personal security in the digital space; improving digital literacy and ethics, information and psychological culture of representatives of law enforcement agencies; studying the problems of psychological impact on personality, the specifics of conducting information and psychological wars, the spread of negative digital content; analyzing personal qualities-protectors of victim behavior in the digital environment among participants in armed conflicts; studying the impact of destructive digital content on the productivity of the rehabilitation process of combatants. It has been established that the main threats to personal security in the field of law enforcement agencies are primarily related to the possibility of creating a destructive digital environment, an information space that does not meet the interests of combatants; a change in the favorable attitude of society towards representatives of law enforcement agencies, armed conflicts or authorities; lack of full control and ensuring the safety of personal data; transformation of the personality of representatives of law enforcement agencies, their behavior or mental state in a direction that does not meet the needs of society or the state. The implementation of digital technologies poses risks in areas related to extreme professions, where individuals become highly vulnerable both in informational and psychological terms. Conclusions. Excessive interest in the Internet and other information technologies leads to significant changes in the value orientations of a person and society. The material of the article allows us to critically assess the potential of digitalization of the living space and professional activities of representatives of law enforcement agencies, as well as to improve measures to ensure the security of the identity of participants in military operations in Russia.

General Information

Keywords: information and psychological impact, cyber threats, personal security, digital environment, information content, participants in military operations

Journal rubric: Legal Psychology and Psychology of Safety

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2026150207

Received 22.01.2026

Revised 03.06.2026

Accepted

Published

For citation: Petrov, V.E. (2026). Personal security of combatants in the digital world. Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 15(2), 68–77. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2026150207

© Petrov V.E., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Vladislav E. Petrov, Doctor of Psychology, Docent, Associate Professor, the Department of Scientific Bases of Extreme Psychology, Faculty of Extreme Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7854-4807, e-mail: Petrovve@mgppu.ru

Ethics statement

The study is a theoretical analysis of foreign publications on the issue of personal security and does not require ethical approval.

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