Who is the Internet Troll? Innovative research for analyzing online (dis)information

Fake news, disinformation and filter bubbles can cause civil disorder, polarization, and radicalization. How do online influencing processes work? How do we gain more insight into the dynamics of social media? And how do we map out the multitude of information on the internet for research and analysis? In the pilot project 'Who is the Troll?' we use innovative tools for detecting disinformation and internet trolls.

Purpose of research: more and better internet research

First, the aim of this project is to get a better understanding of the functioning of social interactions on online platforms and to better distinguish between fake and real news. Secondly, we want to increase the possibilities of internet research by using online intelligence tools and take it to a higher level of quality. We use the online intelligence tools within practical assignments and/or case studies (DBE).

In internet research – and more specifically in the automated collection, selection and interpretation of data – various questions arise: what is possible, what is allowed and what is (not) desirable? Together with students, lecturers and researchers, we reflect on these kinds of questions and create more ethical awareness.

Project Management

Dr. Joyce Kerstens (Cybersafety Research Group) en Dr. Deike Schulz (Professorship Organisations en Social Media)

Project Team

Sara de Hoog, Charlotte van Hassel, Mirjam Lasthuizen, Anna Bartelds, Renske Zuurveen. For this project, we’ll be working together with Dutch company Trollrensics – Uncovering Disinformation Campaigns on Social Media

Time schedule

December 2021 – Juli 2022