Pop science blogs

When Research APIs Close the Door: Using Algorithmic Auditing as an Alternative Approach to Study Social Media

Access to public data from social media platforms is, in general, an important enabler for research activities in all fields, ranging from computer science to social science and humanities. The...

Why viral posts on social media might be hurting us the most

Billions of people scroll through social media every day, encountering different posts. We often assume that the posts we see are the most important or entertaining ones, just because they...

Hidden struggles of auditing social platforms: Why is creating user accounts so difficult?

Multiple factors influence the success and effectiveness of an audit of a social platform. These factors are not only varied, concerned with implementation and research alike, but also often unexpected....

Algorithmic Audits on TikTok: Why Results are Hard to Replicate and Quickly Expire

Have you ever wondered why the videos recommended to you on TikTok feel like they read your mind? TikTok’s algorithm raises significant questions about transparency, fairness, and the risk of...

Does YouTube fight misinformation videos? Analysing video removal over 3 years

In 2021 (more than 3 years ago), we performed an analysis of how the YouTube recommendation algorithm encloses users in misinformation bubbles, and how one can burst such bubbles. The...

Aiming to Catch’Em All: Our Research on Data for Network Intrusion Detection

We live in a world where Internet connectivity is essential for most people’s daily lives. The Internet plays a crucial role in business operations, online communication, education, or leisure activities....

Holding Big Platforms Accountable: The Why, What, and How of Auditing

Imagine you’re about to audit one of the world’s largest online platforms – perhaps TikTok, Google, or Facebook. Your task? To assess whether they’re managing risks effectively, moderating content fairly,...

The AI Act Chronicles: Make fundamental rights and freedoms great again

In our previous blogs, we have explained the general background and philosophy of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act, AIA) and its scope. In the latest instalment, we explored...

The AI Act Chronicles: Red Lines (part 2)

In our previous blogs, we have explored the foundations and scope of the AI Act. Lastly, we have been discussing the first set of prohibited practices. In this part, we...