Computational Methods to Measure and Mitigate Weaponized Online Information

The Web has redefined the way in which malicious activities such as online harassment, disinformation, and radicalization are carried out. To be able to fully understand these phenomena, we need computational tools able to trace malicious activity as it happens and identify influential entities that carry it out. Developing such approaches, however, is challenging for a number of reasons, from the difficulty of getting a comprehensive view of what happens on the Web, to the need of processing and making sense of heterogeneous information like images and videos. <br><br> In this special talk, cohosted by the Cyber Alliance and Wed@Hariri, BU Engineering Prof. Gianluca Stringhini will present his efforts on developing tools to automatically monitor and model malicious online activities such as coordinated aggression campaigns, state-sponsored disinformation, and the sharing of extremist material online. He will then discuss possible mitigations against these harmful activities, keeping in mind the potential unintended consequences that might arise from suspending offending users. The computational tools presented as part of this talk can enable scholars from a number of disciplines to develop new theories about malicious activity carried out on the Web, providing a significant contribution to society. <br><br> There will be time for casual conversation and light refreshments before and after the presentation. Please register through Eventbrite at https://www.bu.edu/hic/2019/12/02/computational-methods-to-measure-and-mitigate-weaponized-online-information/.

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