Strategic identity management in cyberspace (sock puppets)
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Cyberspace identity management (PDF)
Principal Investigator
Policy Theme
Funder
Project dates
01.06.12-31.03.13
Research Centre
Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy
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This project will examine the strategic use and management of identities online by social interests including government, corporate and civil society actors. In particular it will examine the phenomenon of the ‘Sock Puppet’ – the use of false identities to promote or undermine products or policies. Given the novel nature of the ‘sock puppet’ (the term was coined only in 1993) the project seeks to bring established interdisciplinary expertise to bear. The intention is to provide significant new evidence on the use of sock puppets and contribute significantly to debates on how to respond to them at a variety of academic and policy levels.
Objectives Include:
- To examine the specific cyber component of the phenomenon and how this is distinct from traditional Public Relations techniques
- Take key case studies including Wikipedia, terrorism, religious groups, climate change, and tobacco/smoking
- Examine the ethical use of ‘managed identities’ online
- To develop policy guidance on how to deal with and respond to sock puppets and guidance of ISPs on monitoring and regulating sock puppets
