IN3 KISON group research assistant (Temporary)

We are seeking to recruit a research assistance for the development of the strategic project DANGER Cybersecurity of the research group KISON at the IN3 of the University.

The project addresses the specific problem of the distribution of disinformation content on social networks, a problem with serious consequences for our society. Digital media have changed the classic model of mass media that considers the sender of the message and a passive receiver, to a model where digital media users are able to appropriate content, recreate it, and redistribute it. The spread of fake news, rumors, and conspiracy theories can influence public opinion, cause confusion and various kinds of damage, and in extreme cases, even incite violence.

In recent years, the transmission of disinformation content that is generated and propagated through social networks is a growing problem. Having tools that increase transparency in content publication so that citizens who access social networks can identify and filter this information is an increasingly pressing need. In particular, photo and video editing tools, and recent advances in artificial intelligence, allow non-professionals to easily falsify multimedia documents and create deep fakes. To protect against these threats, it is essential to have effective multimedia security and cybersecurity measures.

Responsibilities:

In this role, you will combine research on watermarks and machine learning to develop novel technological tools that help users distinguish between original and altered multimedia content. With the proposed tools, we hope that social network users can identify the authorship of content and distinguish legitimate multimedia content from fake content autonomously, without the need for the platform administrator to control or validate any content. In addition, watermarking tools will also provide content creators with a way to protect their creations against manipulation. Therefore, the goal of this work package is to provide user-centered tools that combat disinformation content and contribute to minimizing its redistribution on social networks.

The successful candidate will be awarded a temporary full-time contract of one year, starting in June 2024.

The reference headquarters will be located at 22@, Rbla. Del Poblenou, 156, in Barcelona. We work with an open work model that combines teleworking with onsite work, depending on organisational needs and the nature of the tasks.