Crisis and Collective Problem-Solving on the Darkweb: Understanding Crisis Information Processing in Hidden Cyber Communities
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to understand collective crisis information processing in malicious hacker communities on the deep- and darkweb. Although previous research has advanced computational and network structural understanding of the darkweb, a missing piece to these endeavors is the offering of social scientific insights on the Ôhuman-sideÕ of the darkweb. This project will build and test a social psychology theory-driven model, referred to as Cybergroup Crisis Information Processing (CCIP) model. The proposed model highlights the hackersÕ affective and cognitive needs for collaboration during their crisis moments, and addresses the ways in which different types of information processing systems emerge and affect crisis-coping responses within the darkweb communities. We will (1) develop the model framework based on the related social psychology literature and pilot data analysis (Year 1); (2) empirically apply the model to the hacker messages that occurred during multiple periods of darkweb crises using content- and statistical analyses (Year 2 & 3); and (3) expand the applicability of the model to the large corpus of hacker messages via use of computational methods (Year 2 & 3). By offering a generalizable theoretical framework (CCIP) that is applicable across multiple communities and over different crisis contexts, we anticipate not only attaining a better understanding of crisis management in the darkweb but also advancing social scientific knowledge on the collective decision-making processes in the hidden cyber communities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910066
Entities
People
- Kyounghee Kwon
Organizations
- Arizona State University
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army