UMass Boston Researchers Develop AI Solutions to Combat Disinformation in Cybersecurity

A team of researchers led by Romilla Syed, associate professor in the College of Management at UMass Boston, is spearheading an innovative project to harness artificial intelligence in the fight against disinformation, which they identify as a significant strategic threat within cybersecurity.

Working alongside Stéphane Gagnon from the Université du Québec en Outaouais and a collaborative research team, Syed is investigating how AI technologies can be deployed to detect, analyze, and counteract false information that spreads across digital platforms.

The research comes at a critical time when disinformation campaigns have evolved into sophisticated operations that can destabilize institutions, influence elections, and threaten national security. These campaigns have become increasingly difficult to combat as they utilize advanced techniques to appear legitimate.

“Disinformation has transformed from a simple annoyance to a legitimate cybersecurity concern,” said Syed. “Bad actors are using increasingly sophisticated methods to spread false narratives that can have real-world consequences for businesses, governments, and society at large.”

The research team is developing AI applications that can identify patterns in how disinformation spreads across social media and news platforms. Their systems analyze linguistic features, source credibility, and dissemination patterns to flag potentially misleading content. The technology can also trace the origin of disinformation campaigns, helping to identify coordinated efforts.

One of the project’s key innovations is its approach to contextual understanding. Unlike basic fact-checking tools, the AI systems being developed can evaluate information within broader narratives and recognize manipulation techniques that might not involve outright falsehoods but rather strategic omissions or misleading framing.

“Combating disinformation isn’t just about identifying what’s false,” explained Gagnon. “It’s about understanding how truthful elements can be recombined and recontextualized to create misleading narratives. Our AI tools are designed to recognize these subtle manipulation tactics.”

The research has significant implications for various sectors. For businesses, the technology could protect brand reputation by identifying false claims about products or services before they gain traction. Government agencies could deploy these tools to safeguard election integrity and protect critical infrastructure from influence campaigns designed to undermine public trust.

Educational institutions are also potential beneficiaries, as the research team is developing training modules to help students and professionals recognize disinformation tactics. These resources aim to build “cognitive resilience” against misleading information.

The project represents a growing recognition that disinformation constitutes a legitimate cybersecurity threat requiring technological countermeasures. Traditional cybersecurity has focused primarily on protecting systems and data from unauthorized access, but experts increasingly acknowledge that protecting information integrity is equally crucial.

Industry analysts note that this research aligns with broader trends in the cybersecurity market, which is expanding beyond conventional threat protection to address information warfare. The global market for disinformation countermeasures is projected to grow substantially in coming years as organizations recognize the business and security risks posed by false information.

“What makes this project particularly valuable is its interdisciplinary approach,” said a cybersecurity expert not involved in the research. “By bringing together expertise in information systems, psychology, linguistics, and security, the team is addressing disinformation as the complex phenomenon it is.”

The UMass Boston-led research team emphasizes that technology alone cannot solve the disinformation problem. Their approach integrates AI tools with human oversight and education, recognizing that automated systems must work in tandem with human judgment.

As the research progresses, Syed and her colleagues plan to publish their findings and make certain tools available to organizations particularly vulnerable to disinformation campaigns. They are also engaging with policymakers to discuss how such technologies might be incorporated into broader strategies for maintaining information integrity in the digital age.