Cognitive Infiltration

“Cognitive Infiltration” is a term coined by the University of Chicago and Harvard law professor Cass Sunstein in his 2008 article Conspiracy Theories co-authored by his colleague Adrian Vermeule. Sunstein and Vermeule called for the use of “cognitive infiltration” in order that groups espousing such theories “might be undermined.”[1] While even admitting that certain conspiracy theories have indeed been proven true (e.g. Watergate, Project MKULTRA, Operation Northwoods), they nonetheless proceeded to outline whereby such theorizing can and should be thwarted.

Subsequent to the publication of his paper, Sunstein was hired by Obama in 2009 to be the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – a position he held until 2012. OIRA is ostensibly concerned with recommending and implementing government policy changes. Did Sunstein and his successors and like-thinkers pursue these “thoughtcrime” ideas (see Orwell’s 1984) expressed in his Conspiracy Theories paper? There is a historical precedent for just such a thing and it is known as COINTELPRO.