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in·ter·net ob·serv·a·to·ry

[ˈin(t)ərˌnet əbˈzərvəˌtôrē] n. a lab housing infrastructure and human expertise for the study of the internet

graphic represntations of computers and phones connected to tettering boxes of files and then connected to law enforcement in a complex web on a blue background.

How to Fix the Online Child Exploitation Reporting System

A new Stanford Internet Observatory report examines how to improve the CyberTipline pipeline from dozens of interviews with tech companies, law enforcement and the nonprofit that runs the U.S. online child abuse reporting system.

six people sit in white chairs on a raised stage in front of a turquoise and magenta background

CFP: 2024 Trust & Safety Research Conference

3rd Annual Trust & Safety Research Conference announced for September 26-27, 2024. Presentation proposals and abstracts due April 30, 2024

Read Call for Proposals

miriam delphin-rittmon and jeff hancock sit at a table. A red sign is behind them

Key Findings from Stanford Event with Youth Online Safety Leaders & Federal Task Force

Youth online health and safety leaders urged action, shared accountability and a nuanced approach to empower and protect young people online.

image of Jesus under water, his arms and torso made of shrimps

How Spammers, Scammers and Creators Leverage AI-Generated Images on Facebook for Audience Growth

A new preprint paper looks at the ways Facebook Page operators are using AI image models to create surreal content and generate online engagement.

News

Coordinated behavior across 18 pro-Saif Gaddafi Facebook Pages

Blogs April 27, 2020

Coordinated behavior across 18 pro-Saif Gaddafi Facebook Pages

Blogs April 27, 2020

A cluster of pro-Saif Gaddafi Facebook Pages suspended for inauthentic behavior worked to create the impression that Saif has broad support among Libyans, and tried to undermine the recognized government, including by pushing COVID-19 conspiracies.

Stanford Internet Observatory launches attribution.news with First Draft

Blogs April 20, 2020

Stanford Internet Observatory launches attribution.news with First Draft

Blogs April 20, 2020

Attribution.news provides journalists with tools to effectively cover the origins of both cyber incidents and information operations online. It unpacks some of these complexities through case studies and recommended best practices for covering this topic.

WARSAW, POLAND - OCTOBER 13: Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the governing, right-wing Law and Justice political party (PiS), speaks to supporters following the announcement of first results in Polish parliamentary elections on October 13, 2019 in Warsaw, P

Poland Presidential Election 2020: The Pandemic Sows Chaos

Blogs April 10, 2020

Poland Presidential Election 2020: The Pandemic Sows Chaos

Blogs April 10, 2020

With a month to go until the planned election date, neither the final date of the election nor the mechanism for voting has been established. To comply with social distancing, the campaign has moved almost entirely to social media. The government also announced further shelter-in place restrictions thereby making traditional voting impossible.