Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis
Abstract Democracies around the world face the threat of manipulation of their electorates via coordinated online influence campaigns. Researchers have responded by developing valuable methods for finding automated accounts and identifying false information, but these valiant efforts often fall into...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Big Data |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-023-00695-7 |
| _version_ | 1811165874506170368 |
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| author | Daniele Bellutta Kathleen M. Carley |
| author_facet | Daniele Bellutta Kathleen M. Carley |
| author_sort | Daniele Bellutta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Democracies around the world face the threat of manipulation of their electorates via coordinated online influence campaigns. Researchers have responded by developing valuable methods for finding automated accounts and identifying false information, but these valiant efforts often fall into a cat-and-mouse game with perpetrators who constantly change their behavior. This has forced several researchers to go beyond the detection of individual malicious actors by instead identifying the coordinated activity that propels potent information operations. In this vein, we provide rigorous quantitative evidence for the notion that sudden increases in Twitter account creations may provide early warnings of online information operations. Analysis of fourteen months of tweets discussing the 2020 U.S. elections revealed that accounts created during bursts exhibited more similar behavior, showed more agreement on mail-in voting and mask wearing, and were more likely to be bots and share links to low-credibility sites. In concert with other techniques for detecting nefarious activity, social media platforms could temporarily limit the influence of accounts created during these bursts. Given the advantages of combining multiple anti-misinformation methods, we join others in presenting a case for the need to develop more integrable methods for countering online influence campaigns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:44:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b867021f64094770848a7e2df0d44e44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-1115 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:44:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Big Data |
| spelling | doaj.art-b867021f64094770848a7e2df0d44e442023-02-12T12:14:34ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Big Data2196-11152023-02-0110111710.1186/s40537-023-00695-7Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysisDaniele Bellutta0Kathleen M. Carley1CASOS & IDeaS Centers, Carnegie Mellon UniversityCASOS & IDeaS Centers, Carnegie Mellon UniversityAbstract Democracies around the world face the threat of manipulation of their electorates via coordinated online influence campaigns. Researchers have responded by developing valuable methods for finding automated accounts and identifying false information, but these valiant efforts often fall into a cat-and-mouse game with perpetrators who constantly change their behavior. This has forced several researchers to go beyond the detection of individual malicious actors by instead identifying the coordinated activity that propels potent information operations. In this vein, we provide rigorous quantitative evidence for the notion that sudden increases in Twitter account creations may provide early warnings of online information operations. Analysis of fourteen months of tweets discussing the 2020 U.S. elections revealed that accounts created during bursts exhibited more similar behavior, showed more agreement on mail-in voting and mask wearing, and were more likely to be bots and share links to low-credibility sites. In concert with other techniques for detecting nefarious activity, social media platforms could temporarily limit the influence of accounts created during these bursts. Given the advantages of combining multiple anti-misinformation methods, we join others in presenting a case for the need to develop more integrable methods for countering online influence campaigns.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-023-00695-7MisinformationElectionsSocial networks |
| spellingShingle | Daniele Bellutta Kathleen M. Carley Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis Journal of Big Data Misinformation Elections Social networks |
| title | Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis |
| title_full | Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis |
| title_fullStr | Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis |
| title_short | Investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis |
| title_sort | investigating coordinated account creation using burst detection and network analysis |
| topic | Misinformation Elections Social networks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-023-00695-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielebellutta investigatingcoordinatedaccountcreationusingburstdetectionandnetworkanalysis AT kathleenmcarley investigatingcoordinatedaccountcreationusingburstdetectionandnetworkanalysis |