David Thiel

David Thiel

David Thiel

  • Chief Technologist, Stanford Internet Observatory
  • Big Data Architect

Biography

David is the Chief Technologist of the Stanford Internet Observatory. In addition to architecting SIO's compute and data infrastructure, he performs research in the areas of coordinated disinformation campaigns, the dynamics of various "alt" platforms, decentralized social media, and issues affecting online child safety. He is also a managing editor of the Journal of Online Trust and Safety.

Prior to Stanford, David worked at Facebook, primarily focusing on security and safety for Facebook Connectivity, a collection of projects aimed at providing faster and less expensive internet connectivity to unconnected or underconnected communities. Projects included the Terragraph mesh networking system, the Magma open source mobile network platform, Express Wi-Fi and Facebook Lite.

Before Facebook, David was a VP at iSEC Partners and later NCC Group, managing the North American security consulting and research team, as well as producing original security research, coordinating vulnerability disclosure and performing security assessments and penetration testing for companies across a wide range of business sectors.

David has spoken at various industry conferences, including Black Hat, DEFCON, PacSec and the Crimes Against Children Conference. He is also the author of iOS Application Security (No Starch Press) and coauthor of Mobile Application Security (McGraw-Hill).

publications

Case Studies
August 2022

Mind Farce: An Investigation into an Inauthentic Facebook and Instagram Network Linked to an Israeli Public Relations Firm

Author(s)
cover link Mind Farce: An Investigation into an Inauthentic Facebook and Instagram Network Linked to an Israeli Public Relations Firm
Case Studies
December 2021

Maduro’s Menagerie: Twitter Client Usage in a Venezuelan Twitter Operation

Author(s)
cover link Maduro’s Menagerie: Twitter Client Usage in a Venezuelan Twitter Operation
Case Studies
December 2021

Seeing Double: Twitter Removes Network of Duplicate Accounts Cheerleading Mexican Political Allies

Author(s)
cover link Seeing Double: Twitter Removes Network of Duplicate Accounts Cheerleading Mexican Political Allies

In The News

collage of photos including group shot of SIO staff and of the Stanford Dish
News

The Stanford Internet Observatory Turns Three

SIO releases its annual report summarizing its first three years of research, teaching and policy and laying the path for the years to come.
cover link The Stanford Internet Observatory Turns Three
the cover of the first issue of the journal of online trust and safety featuring a stylized picture of fiber optic cables and the logo of the journal
News

The first issue of the Journal of Online Trust and Safety

The journal of Online Trust and Safety published its inaugural issue on Thursday, October 28.
cover link The first issue of the Journal of Online Trust and Safety
headliner graphic with a graphic illustration of nodes and connecters and the text "stanford internet observatory 2019-2021 the first two years."
News

The Stanford Internet Observatory Turns Two

SIO releases its two year report summarizing its first two years of research, teaching and policy and laying the path for the years to come.
cover link The Stanford Internet Observatory Turns Two