Analyzing the Changes in Network Topology During 2020 US Presidential Election and 2021 Capitol Attacks
Author: Akshay Verma
Masters of Science in Data Science
Supervisor: Prof. Amir Jafari
Columbian College of Arts & Science, The George Washington University
├── code
│ ├── component (Dashboard and Jupyter Notebook)
│ │ ├── Data (Data for Data_Analysis_Notebook)
│ │ ├── Network.py
│ │ ├── Chart_Dashboard.py
│ │ ├── Chat_with_Dashboard.py
│ | ├── app.py (Dashboard)
│ | └──Data_Analysis_Notebook
├── Data (Data for RAG)
├── full_report
│ └── Word_Report
├── presentation
└── research_paper
├── Latex
│ └── Fig
└── Word
In the digital age, online hate networks thrive as platforms for spreading extremist ideologies and hate speech, posing a significant threat tosocietal cohesion. This study examines the impact of key real-world events, notably the 2020 U.S. presidential election and the January 6 Capitol attack on the evolution of online hate networks. Using data collected from hate communities between November 1, 2020, and January 10, 2021, this research analyzes shifts in hate speech themes and network topology. Following the presidential election, an increase in hate speech targeting immigration, eth nicity, and antisemitism was observed. The January 6 Capitol attack further intensified these trends. Central to this investigation is the examination of two key aspects of online hate networks: the content they disseminate and the underlying structure of their connections. By studying shifts in hate themes and network topology, including changes in centrality and com munity structure, this study seeks to uncover the mechanisms driving the evolution of online hate networks. The analysis reveals significant changes in network cohesion post-attack, characterized by increased clustering and assortativity. This research sheds light on the role of online platforms in radicalization and mobilization efforts, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to combat hate speech online. Despite its niche presence, Telegram has become a key hub for propagating extremist ideologies and coordinating malicious activities.
To use the dashboard, follow these steps:
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Fork the Repository: Start by forking the repository to your GitHub account. This will create a copy of the project in your own account.
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Obtain API Key: You'll need to obtain your own API key for accessing the necessary data. The dashboard relies on external APIs for data retrieval. Instructions for obtaining the API key can be found in the documentation of the respective APIs used in the project.
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Command to run Dashboard
streamlit run app.py