Research Summaries

Back Syria Case Study: Social Media Exploitation Methodology for Illuminating Dark Networks

Fiscal Year 2013
Division Graduate School of Operational & Information Sciences
Department Defense Analysis
Investigator(s) Everton, Sean F.
Sponsor Office of the Secretary of Defense (DoD)
Summary Open source social media like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook can provide useful information about dark networks (covert or illegal groups) around the world. Many opposition groups in Syria, such as various battalions associated with the Free Syrian Army as well as violent extremist organizations (VEOs) like AI-Nusra Front, use social media now as a means of spreading information, garnering support, and mobilizing members. So far, little to no work has been done at incorporating open source social media information as part of a means for mapping dark networks for unconventional warfare (UW) or counter-terrorism (CT) purposes. This project will research existing tools and methodologies, continue developing CORE Lab government off the shelf (GOTS) tools, and generate a written "primer" or Teaching Guide for use in future NPS courses and beyond. The project exploits social media using advanced analytical methodologies and advances in network analysis in denied access environments as well as permissive regions, in a Syria Case Study. The case study will demonstrate how these methods can be applied to produce analytical products that inform the crafting of intervention strategies. The project's objectives are: 1) to provide a Teaching Guide summarizing how open-source social media information can be exploited using advanced analytical methodologies for the purpose of illuminating dark networks; 2) demonstrate this methodology through a Syria case study; and 3) compare both GOTS and COTS social media analytical software.
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Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal