鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is home to a diverse student body and respected faculty transforming academic endeavors into practical support and solutions for Arkansans. Establishing a full-service veterans legal clinic within the Bowen School of Law and bolstering nanotech research with a wide range of real-world applications will benefit veterans and accelerate innovative breakthroughs at the intersection of science and medicine,鈥� said U.S. Senator John Boozman, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to have championed these investments and look forward to the exciting impact they will have on our state and beyond in the years to come.鈥�

Chancellor Christina Drale added that these investments further position the university to serve Arkansas through impactful research and programs.

鈥淭his level of federal investment affirms the value and impact of the work happening at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Chancellor Christina Drale. 鈥淔rom supporting Arkansas veterans to advancing research in nanotechnology, cybersecurity, and data analytics, these appropriations strengthen our ability to serve the state and deliver research that makes a measurable difference for our communities and our country.

The federal funding package includes two direct allocations secured by Boozman for the veterans legal clinic and nanotechnology research equipment, in addition to the other investments he and the Arkansas congressional delegation supported for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock programs:

• $750,000 to support the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at the William H. Bowen School of Law
• $6 million for nanotechnology initiatives, including:
  • $3 million to enhance nanotechnology research capacity through the purchase of highly specialized state-of-the-art equipment
  • $3 million specifically for nanomaterials for bone regeneration research
• $5 million to develop a cyber-resilient computing platform in partnership with Montana State University
• $1 million to support COSMOS (social networks analysis) research

Veterans Legal Services Clinic

The $750,000 appropriation will enhance the Bowen School of Law鈥檚 Veterans Legal Services Clinic, which provides free legal assistance to Arkansas veterans while giving law students hands-on experience. To date the clinic has supported Veterans in two thirds of Arkansas counties and has secured more than $500k in benefits for veterans. With the additional funding, the clinic hopes to secure additional support to serve all Arkansas counties.  

鈥淭his funding strengthens our ability to stand alongside Arkansas veterans and ensure they have access to the legal services they deserve,鈥� said Dean Colin Crawford of the Bowen School of Law. 鈥淚t also gives our students meaningful, real-world experience advocating for those who have served our country.鈥�

Analytical and Nanotechnology Research Expansion

The $6 million in nanotechnology funding will significantly expand 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 research capacity. The $3 million equipment investment will enhance nanotechnology research through the acquisition of advanced instrumentation, positioning the university for continued growth in high-impact materials science. The instrumentation will serve both the academic as well as the industrial partners and provide educational opportunities for a variety of students and users. An additional $3 million will support research focused specifically on nanomaterials for bone regeneration, with potential applications for injured service members and others requiring regenerative medical treatments.

鈥淭hese investments strengthen the university鈥檚 ability to conduct advanced characterization and research at a higher level both academically and industrially,鈥� said Dr. Alex Biris, Chief Scientist at the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences. 鈥淭he funding expands our research capacity, and the support for the development of technologies focused on advanced bone and tissue regeneration, allowing us to pursue innovative solutions with significant implications for both national defense and medical advancement.鈥�  

Cyber-Resilient Space Computing Platform

The $5 million cyber-resilient computing platform project, a joint effort between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and Montana State University, will focus on strengthening satellite systems against emerging cyber threats and enhancing national security capabilities in space.

鈥淭his project advances our ability to build AI models that protect mission-critical systems operating in increasingly complex and contested cyber environments in space,鈥� said Dr. Philip Huff. 鈥淚t reflects 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 growing leadership in applied cybersecurity research that directly supports national defense and workforce needs.鈥�

COSMOS: Social Networks Analysis

The $1 million investment in COSMOS (social networks analysis) will expand research capabilities in data analytics and national security applications.

鈥淪ocial network analysis plays a critical role in understanding complex digital ecosystems and cognitive security challenges,鈥� said Dr. Nitin Agarwal, director of COSMOS Research Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭his funding allows us to deepen our research impact while preparing students to lead in high-demand intelligence and analytics fields.鈥�

Together, these investments accelerate 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 momentum as a leading public research university and a driver of innovation in Arkansas. From supporting veterans in Arkansas courtrooms to advancing technologies that strengthen national security, the university continues to translate research excellence into tangible benefits for the state and the nation.

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Agarwal鈥檚 award-winning paper, 鈥� introduces a novel, human-centered AI framework that goes beyond surface-level metrics to reveal how emotion, sentiment and bias shift throughout digital video content. The research was recognized for advancing media transparency and accountability in an era dominated by engagement-driven algorithms.

The study addresses a growing concern in the digital age: how platforms such as YouTube shape public perception through algorithmic design and emotionally charged framing. While most prior research has focused on titles, thumbnails and engagement statistics, Agarwal鈥檚 team examined the full narrative arc of videos to better understand how messages evolve from first impression to underlying substance.

Using artificial intelligence, the researchers conducted a multi-layer analysis of YouTube content, evaluating titles, descriptions, transcripts and AI-generated summaries. This approach allowed the team to trace how emotional tone and bias change as viewers move deeper into the content.

The results were “striking,” Agarwal said.

Sentiment grew more positive and joyful across deeper layers of analysis, while anger and toxicity declined sharply. Video titles, which are often optimized to attract clicks, were consistently the most provocative, while the core narratives tended to be more balanced, measured and constructive.

鈥淭his research shows how AI can be used to interpret meaning, not just data,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淏y analyzing content holistically, we can uncover gaps between what grabs attention on the surface and what a message actually communicates. That distinction is essential for building more transparent and trustworthy digital environments.鈥�

Published in the IARIA Congress 2025 proceedings, the study represents a significant advance in AI-driven media analysis. By integrating sentiment, emotion and toxicity detection across multiple content layers, the research establishes a new framework for evaluating online media beyond headlines and engagement metrics.

The implications extend well beyond YouTube. The methodology can be applied across social and digital platforms to help researchers, policymakers and technology developers better understand how algorithms influence engagement and how those systems might be redesigned to promote fairness, accuracy, and contextual integrity.

鈥淥ur goal is to help both platforms and audiences distinguish between attention-grabbing rhetoric and authentic communication,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his kind of analysis moves us closer to AI systems that genuinely support informed decision-making.鈥�

The recognition adds to a growing list of international honors for Agarwal and the , which he founded and directs. COSMOS conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computer science, behavioral analysis, and social impact, with support from federal agencies and international partners focused on algorithmic transparency, cognitive warfare, AI applications, and digital ethics.

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A coordinated cognitive threat is an effort to influence what people think, believe or feel by spreading misleading or manipulative information, often through social media, videos or online networks. According to a news release, the award will fund research and development of artificial intelligence鈥搃nformed socio-computational models to enhance situational awareness by detecting, examining, evaluating, measuring and predicting the coordinated cognitive threat level or impact of adversarial information campaigns. Unchecked online information environments can evolve rapidly, allowing adversaries to disrupt military operations through protests and other non-lethal resistance.

Agarwal, founding director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies () Research Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and his team will expand their work to understand and mitigate cognitive threats in the digital age.

鈥淲e need to develop scientific approaches to mitigate emerging cognitive threats in a global context, equip our warfighters with these capabilities, and strengthen community resiliency,鈥� Agarwal said.

AI-enhanced cognitive threats have already become a key factor in tensions between the United States and China. Agarwal said that misleading narratives in the Indo-Pacific region often portray the United States negatively, with adversaries working to manipulate local opinions by spreading falsehoods.

鈥淪uch influence operation tactics can be employed clandestinely in a low-cost, low-risk context. Military leaders can expect to encounter an increased volume of adversary-generated, AI-amplified, social media鈥揹riven information campaigns,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淪ocio-cognitive threats are increasingly becoming: 1) a collective phenomenon, and 2) multimedia-centric. This project aims to advance socio-computational science and AI to mitigate AI-enhanced cognitive threats and strengthen community resiliency. The developed approaches will be validated and demonstrated in real-world use cases.鈥�

The award has received support from U.S. Sen. John Boozman, who is a strong advocate for the innovative research taking place at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and COSMOS.

鈥淚 am pleased to support 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and its Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies. This award recognizes the significance of this program to our national security,鈥� Boozman said. 鈥淭he important research conducted here will enhance our ability to counter the use of novel social media tactics by foreign extremists and terrorist groups threatening the United States and our allies.鈥�

鈥淲e are extremely grateful for the support from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock leadership and U.S. Sen. John Boozman for championing this vital research,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his funding helps the COSMOS Research Center continue to develop analytical tools and capabilities to strengthen our national defense and security apparatus against cognitive threats.鈥�

The developed models will be integrated into COSMOS software platforms, including BlogTracker and V(ideo)Tracker, bringing these tools closer to operational use.

The award also provides funding for training exercises focused on the evolving security landscape of big data analytics, data management, machine learning and AI applications.

鈥淭he project helps create exciting opportunities for our students and research staff through exposure to real-world problems and by stimulating them to develop science-based solutions,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭his funding will also enhance COSMOS鈥� AI and high-performance computing infrastructure to scale up multimedia data analysis and sensemaking.鈥�

The award is expected to support about 15 graduate assistantships, several postdoctoral research fellowships, and additional positions for data engineers and network administrators.

Students working on the project will gain valuable skills in data science, artificial intelligence, natural language processing and machine learning.

鈥淭hrough these projects, we are training our students to be future-ready innovators prepared to tackle real-world challenges,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淭hese skills are highly transferable across any technology-driven environment. Even before graduation, COSMOS students receive job offers from top tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple and other Forbes 100 companies. For those pursuing academic careers, many secure tenure-track faculty positions at leading universities. Our research is not only advancing the disciplines of social computing and AI but also establishing COSMOS and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as leaders in innovation.鈥�

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Agarwal鈥檚 paper, titled 鈥�,鈥� was recognized for its innovative use of artificial intelligence to reveal subtle patterns of bias and sentiment within digital video content. This is a pioneering contribution to the field of human-centered AI and media transparency, according to Agarwal.

The award-winning study tackled a growing concern in the digital age: how engagement-driven platforms like YouTube influence perception through algorithmic design and emotional framing. While previous studies relied on surface-level indicators, like video titles, descriptions, and engagement metrics, Agarwal鈥檚 team sought to understand the deeper emotional and narrative structure of content posted on the video platform.

To do this, the research leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to perform a multi-layered analysis of YouTube videos. The AI examined titles, descriptions, transcripts, and AI-generated summaries, uncovering how emotional tone and bias shift across these layers.

The findings were revealing. Sentiment became more positive and joyful as analysis moved deeper into the content, while expressions of anger and toxicity declined sharply. The study concluded that video titles, which are often optimized for engagement, tended to be the most provocative or toxic, while the underlying narratives were far more balanced and constructive.

鈥淭his research showcases how AI can be used to interpret not just data, but meaning,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淏y examining content holistically, we can identify discrepancies between what is presented on the surface and what the message truly conveys. That insight is crucial for creating more transparent and trustworthy digital environments.鈥�

The study, published in the IARIA Congress 2025 proceedings, represents a major step forward in the use of AI for media accountability and bias detection. By integrating sentiment, emotion, and toxicity analysis across multiple content layers, the research introduces a new framework for evaluating online media beyond superficial metrics.

The work鈥檚 implications extend well beyond YouTube. Its methodology can be applied across platforms to help developers, policymakers, and researchers better understand how algorithms shape user engagement and how those algorithms can be designed to promote fairness, accuracy, and context awareness.

鈥淯ltimately, our goal is to develop tools that help platforms and audiences distinguish between attention-grabbing rhetoric and authentic communication,鈥� Prof. Agarwal said. 鈥淭his kind of analysis moves us closer to AI systems that truly support informed decision-making.鈥�

This recognition adds to a growing list of international honors for Prof. Agarwal and COSMOS, whose interdisciplinary research combines computer science, behavioral analysis, and social impact. COSMOS has received support from numerous federal agencies and international partners for its work in algorithmic transparency, cognitive warfare, AI applications, and digital ethics.

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The research was led by , founding director of COSMOS Research Center and the Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Donaghey Distinguished Professor of Information Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and included graduate research assistants Mayor Inna Gurung and Monoarul Bhuiyan. The study was supported through research grants funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Using AI-based computer vision tools, the researchers analyzed 3,097 Instagram images, quantifying symbolic content and measuring how visual and textual coherence affected engagement. Their results showed a clear pattern: posts with more symbolic elements and better alignment between captions and imagery saw significantly higher engagement rates. These posts also spread more quickly, a dynamic demonstrated through epidemiological modeling.

鈥淭his study underscores the importance of AI and multimodal analysis in understanding how online narratives evolve and spread,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淥ur findings show that symbolic content and narrative coherence aren鈥檛 just aesthetic choices鈥攖hey鈥檙e key factors that drive audience attention and influence.鈥�

Presented at the 58th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences () held in Hawaii, the study titled, 鈥�How does Semiotics Influence Social Media Engagement in Information Campaigns?鈥�, combines artificial intelligence and socio-computational modeling to examine the impact of visual symbols in multimedia-rich posts.

The team used state-of-the-art AI models, including large language models, to decode and classify visual symbols and measure how closely captions reflected image content. This approach made the research more scalable and efficient than traditional methods.

鈥淩esearch studies like this pave the way for innovation by showcasing the transformative potential of AI in deepening our understanding of visual narratives,鈥� Agarwal added. 鈥淢oreover, the socio-computational methodologies developed through this work provide powerful tools for evaluating the influence of multimedia-rich information campaigns and enhancing strategic communications.鈥�

The findings could have broad applications in areas such as public health, strategic communication, national security, and additional areas where information campaigns seek to reach, engage, and influence audiences online.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to contribute to such a pivotal initiative,鈥� Agarwal remarked. 鈥淎rtificial intelligence holds immense potential to drive innovation and economic growth, but it also presents complex challenges. By working together, we can establish Arkansas as a leader in the responsible and forward-thinking adoption of AI technologies, setting a benchmark for the nation and the world.鈥�

Agarwal is a member of the AI & Analytics Center of Excellence (AI CoE), chaired by Arkansas Chief Data Officer Robert McGough, which was established as a subcommittee of the Data and Transparency Panel in June. The group will meet for one year to develop policies, guidelines, and best practices for the ethical and effective use of AI within state government.

鈥淣itin works in a global theater of operations through agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and NATO,鈥� said Bryan J. Barnhouse, president and CEO of Arkansas Research Alliance, 鈥淗is contributions to protecting our nation鈥檚 鈥榙igital space鈥� makes him a perfect fit for the Governor’s AI Task Force and applying his expertise at home in Arkansas.鈥�

Additionally, the working group will evaluate pilot projects, such as unemployment insurance fraud detection and recidivism reduction, to craft safe implementation practices. The AI CoE will make their first report to Gov. Sanders in December on the projects鈥� impact on efficiency, cost savings, and economic development.

鈥淎I is already transforming the face of business in America, and Arkansas鈥� state government can鈥檛 get caught flat-footed,鈥� . 鈥淎s we work to find efficiencies within state government, AI can play a role, with appropriate guardrails, in improving our level of service to Arkansans while keeping costs low. At the same time, we must prevent the misuse of AI to protect Arkansans. This working group will build the knowledge base we need to achieve those goals safely.鈥�

Agarwal will collaborate with experts from various sectors to develop recommendations for the ethical and secure deployment of AI technologies in state operations. This initiative, part of a statewide effort to harness the potential of AI while addressing its risks, aims to guide policymakers on integrating AI in ways that enhance efficiency and innovation without compromising safety or privacy.

鈥淎s AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, the need for robust privacy protections and ethical considerations in AI policy development is more critical than ever,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淎I systems often rely on vast amounts of personal data, raising significant concerns about data security, consent, and misuse. Without clear ethical guidelines, these technologies risk perpetuating biases, violating individual rights, and eroding public trust.鈥�

Agarwal emphasized that integrating privacy and ethics into AI policy is essential to ensuring that technological innovation aligns with core values like fairness, accountability, and transparency. This perspective underscores the importance of balancing progress in AI with the responsibility to safeguard societal trust and equity.

鈥淪uch policies must address issues like data ownership, algorithmic accountability, and the equitable distribution of AI benefits,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淏y embedding these principles into the foundation of AI governance, we can create systems that serve society responsibly, respect individual rights, and build public confidence in this transformative technology.鈥�

Agarwal brings a wealth of expertise to the table. He is an internationally renowned researcher whose pioneering work in the social computing discipline has significantly advanced this fledgling area and helped open many doors for innovation for the scientific community. He studies (deviant) behaviors, (mis/dis)information and influence campaigns, group dynamics, influence, trust, collective action, social-cyber forensics, health informatics, data mining, machine learning, AI, and privacy.

Since joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2009, Agarwal has brought in more than $20 million in funding for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock from sponsors like the U.S. Army Research Office, U.S. Office of Naval Research, U.S. Air Force Research Lab, U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. National Science Foundation, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Agarwal created the , which was designated as a research center by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in 2020. COSMOS has produced three dozen projects, published 11 books and more than 300 publications, and three important tools: Blogtrackers, VTracker, and Focal Structure Analysis. COSMOS has assisted the Arkansas Attorney General鈥檚 Office track scams and disinformation related to COVID-19 that led to the development of .

Agarwal鈥檚 research aims to make our online and digital environments safer by combating adversarial or malicious use of AI and shoring up our nation’s cognitive defense and security apparatus. His research further examines the impact of AI and algorithms on society and marginalized communities – particularly algorithmic bias and polarization.

鈥淎I is advancing at an unprecedented pace, requiring a proactive and forward-thinking approach to policy development,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淲e must craft an effective AI policy framework that addresses emerging challenges while unlocking its vast potential in critical areas such as public safety, government applications, education and workforce development, and fostering public trust, literacy, and transparency.鈥�

The initiative reflects Arkansas鈥檚 commitment to staying ahead of technological advancements while safeguarding the public鈥檚 trust. Agarwal鈥檚 involvement highlights 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 role in contributing to critical state and national conversations on technology and governance.

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Nwana joined 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2022 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Covenant University and working as a data analyst for several companies in Nigeria.

鈥淥ne of the things that brought me to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was the opportunity to work with Dr. Agarwal at the ,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had seen that a lot of the work being done at the lab aligned with my skills and what I wanted to do for my career. I had the opportunity to collaborate with smart people, work on critical research projects, and publish research papers.鈥�

Nwana鈥檚 research at COMOS focused on analysis of data from X and Instagram that focused on the Indo Pacific region. He has published four research papers so far with more in the works.

Upon reflecting on his college career, Nwana described his time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as 鈥渉ectic but rewarding.鈥� In addition to working as a graduate assistant at COSMOS, Nwana served as secretary of the National Society of Black Engineers, a senator for the Student Government Association, and a student ambassador for the College of Business, Health, and Human Services.

鈥淲hen I got to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, I enjoyed the togetherness and community of the university,鈥� Nwana said. 鈥淚 got to meet a number of great people in the student body and faculty, which gave me the opportunity to collaborate and learn more about the United States. I think this has been critical to my journey.鈥�

During summer 2023, Nwana worked as a business intelligence engineer at Amazon.

鈥淚t was a great experience, and I got to experience a new city 鈥� Bellevue, Washington,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he expectations at Amazon are very high. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of smart individuals who taught me a lot. It was a rewarding summer.鈥�

He was also one of the 2023 recipients of the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship program, which provides scholarships to full-time college students from diverse backgrounds majoring in computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, information quality, information systems, engineering, mathematics, and statistics, or related areas of study.

鈥淕etting the Acxiom Scholarship was critical to me and important to my entire experience as a college student at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Nwana said. 鈥淭hat scholarship gave me the opportunity to go to a number of conferences to learn about emerging technology in the industry and to make connections.鈥�

After graduation, Nwana plans to work as a data analyst. His advice for future college students is to find a good balance between academics and student life.

鈥淢y advice is not to miss out on any aspect of the entire student experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 focus just on class or just on extracurricular activities. It鈥檚 important to find the right balance so you can have a holistic college experience.鈥�

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鈥淚 had this colleague who left our office and came to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 called on his birthday, and he told me about the school.鈥�

With a keen eye for data-driven insights and a passion for problem-solving, Mezue, who is graduating with a master鈥檚 degree in business information systems and analytics from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, now has her sights set on a promising career as a data analyst, poised to leverage her skills and knowledge to drive organizational success and innovation.

If Mezue could choose just one word to describe her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she would call it 鈥渇ulfilling.鈥� She has spent her time serving as a senator on the Student Government Association, a student ambassador for the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, and a senator for the National Society of Black Engineers.

鈥淚 feel like my time as a student has touched on every aspect that I wanted it to touch on,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started in the finance space, and I wanted to learn more about technology because I started working in the tech industry back in Nigeria.鈥�

She also got to spend the summer of 2023 experiencing what it was like to live in Austin as she worked as a product manager intern for Expedia Group.

鈥淚 got to leave Arkansas to see another part of the U.S., and it was a great experience,鈥� Mezue said. 鈥淚 got to experience a new city, work within a product team, and learn the ropes of how Expedia operates. The internship really helped me improve what I do as a graduate assistant at COSMOS.鈥�

As a member of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies , she worked as a graduate assistant for Blogtrackers, a social computational research tool that tracks and analyzes blogs and bloggers in real-time world events, as well as in outreach, which involved publicizing the achievements of COSMOS and fellow self-described cosmographers.

鈥淚 feel excited about graduating,鈥� Mezue said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an exciting two years, and I鈥檓 looking forward to the future.鈥�

Her future involves a new career working for as a digital technical data consultant following her graduation from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Mezue has had a positive relationship with the company, having been selected as one of the 2023 recipients of the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship program, which she describes as one of her favorite memories from her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

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is to increase the understanding of cognitive warfare and its effects, which will lead to more effective prevention and mitigation strategies and countermeasures to increase security among nations and within the NATO alliance. The outcome of the work will support addressing the Warfare Development Initiatives stated in the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept. Cognitive warfare is classified as the sixth warfighting domain beside land, sea, air, space, and cyber.

Cognitive threats through misinformation, disinformation, bots, and artificial intelligence (AI) have already become a key element in conflicts between the U.S., China, Russia, and Ukraine. For example, in the recent conflicts in Ukraine, a current issue is how countries like the U.S. or organizations like NATO fund and support troops on the ground from afar.

Agarwal, who is also the founding director of the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies () Research Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, traveled to Madrid, Spain, to present at the symposium on Nov. 13-14, 2023. His paper is entitled, 鈥淒eveloping Socio-computational Approaches to Mitigate Socio-cognitive Security Threats in a Multi-platform Multimedia-rich Information Environment.鈥�

In his presentation, Agarwal noted that socio-cognitive threats are increasingly becoming a collective phenomenon and central in online information environments utilizing multimedia. His study enhances situation awareness by using real-life datasets from COVID-19, the Indo-Pacific region, and participation in NATO exercises dating back to 2013 to develop algorithms that detect, examine, evaluate, measure, and predict cognitive threats like adversarial information campaigns.

Agarwal鈥檚 research informs policymakers on how NATO and other affiliated countries can effectively combat the effects of these adversarial tactics and new technologies

鈥淧ropaganda disseminated through social media could potentially be used to persuade susceptible targets to disrupt or delay military operations through protests or other 鈥榥on-lethal resistance,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淣arratives can be easily manipulated and influenced by bots, trolls, and other influence operation tactics, techniques, and procedures.鈥�

Moreover, Agarwal also highlighted the inherent dangers of these adversarial information campaigns, pointing out that 鈥渕ost users of social media cannot or will not differentiate between legitimate and non-legitimate accounts.鈥�

鈥淪ince such influence operation tactics, techniques, and procedures can be employed clandestinely in a low-cost, low-risk context, military leaders can expect to encounter an increased amount of adversary-generated, AI-amplified social media-driven propaganda,鈥� he said.

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The Army Research Office is a directorate of the .

The project, set to run through 2025, aims to identify research gaps in deviant socio-technical behaviors, shape an agenda focused on developing strategies that can counter emerging threats, and create tools for near real-time analysis of such threats.

鈥淣arratives on social media could be easily weaponized and propagated at frighteningly fast speeds,鈥� Agarwal said. 鈥淪uch insidious threats that attempt to influence beliefs and behaviors need to be considered as modern weapons of cognitive hijacking. We need to develop scientific approaches to combat these emerging threats in a global context, equip our warfighters with these capabilities, and strengthen community resiliency.鈥�

Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Information Science, says these threats are increasingly flash mob-type events, where groups self-organize and coordinate in cyberspace, then disperse. Coordinated cognitive attacks can cause stock market frenzy, violent protests, highly coordinated cyberattacks on public infrastructure, for instance. To an outsider such acts may look arbitrary, however, intense coordination happens in the background.

鈥淕iven the evolving technological landscape and increasing complexity of cognitive attacks, research is warranted to develop multidisciplinary and theoretically grounded capabilities to evaluate emerging socio-cognitive threats that can serve the needs of our military at strategic, tactical, and operational levels,鈥� Agarwal said.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman is a strong advocate for basic and applied research at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淭he evolving nature of social media and the changing tactics our adversaries use to spread misinformation requires us to develop a strategy to respond,鈥� Sen. Boozman said. 鈥淒r. Agarwal鈥檚 research will help create critical tools to combat bad actors on these platforms. I鈥檓 proud to support Arkansas鈥檚 role in advancing solutions to counter cyber threats.鈥�

鈥淲e are extremely grateful to the Army Research Office, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock leadership and U.S. Sen. John Boozman for championing this vital research,鈥� Agarwal added. 鈥淚t helps position the COSMOS Research Center at the forefront of developing capabilities to combat cognitive threats. The investment will help put these capabilities in the hands of our warfighters to ultimately strengthen our national defense and security apparatus.鈥�

When narratives rapidly evolve in an unchecked online environment, the results can be dangerous. State and non-state actors, alike, can use social media platforms to amplify certain narratives and sway public opinion in their favor. Some of Agarwal鈥檚 previous research has shown how YouTube鈥檚 algorithms can be manipulated to promote positive content about China while crushing negative news like human rights violations against Uyghur minorities in western China, or how the terrorist organization, Islamic State uses bots to recruit members and for propaganda campaigns.

“There are many popular shows about the use of forensics to solve physical crimes. Somewhat similarly, Dr. Agarwal uses social cyber forensics to determine the sources of scams and influence campaigns, some of which threaten our country and its allies,鈥� said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. 鈥淗e works closely with the Army to apply the methods and tools his team has developed to make us all safer. It’s great to have Dr. Agarwal working on these threats, and we are grateful to have this partnership with the Army Research Office.”

Agarwal鈥檚 research team investigates governments, groups, and individuals who use advanced communication tactics to orchestrate sophisticated cognitive attack campaigns through a variety of existing and emerging social media platforms, particularly multimedia-rich platforms.

U.S. defense groups are interested in the work because it helps to identify how adversaries are promoting certain narratives via social media, how such narratives resonate with the target audience, and how those narratives can be combated. Training exercises will be conducted to enhance the U.S. workforce with skills in big data analytics, data management, machine learning, and artificial intelligence with applications in security.

The award will provide support for high-speed computational servers that are necessary to support the processing of large volumes of multimodality data, which includes text, image, video, audio, reach, engagement, metadata, and interactions. It is also expected to fund around 15 student research positions, several postdoctoral research fellowships, and data engineer positions.

鈥淭he funds will help create exciting opportunities for our students and research staff by exposing them to real world problems and stimulating them to develop science-based solutions,鈥� Agarwal said.

This research was sponsored by the Army Research Office and was accomplished under Grant Number W911NF-23-1-0011. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Army Research Office or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation herein.

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