CYTREC Secondment – A PhD Researcher’s Account
This blog provides an overview of my (a PhD researcher's) experience during a month-long secondment with the Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC) at Swansea University.
This secondment scheme was supported by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (UN CTED) and Tech Against Terrorism (TAT). The secondment aimed to create space to form a multi-stakeholder team tasked with looking at the ways terrorist groups exploit the internet and uncover how to respond in a way that respects human rights. The data used to meet this aim came from the Government of Canada funded TAT created Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP).
As I began this secondment, I approached the conclusion of the first year of a PhD split between Computer Science and Criminology at Swansea University. The project was relevant to a number of factors core to my PhD studies. In summary, my PhD explores how a spectrum of extreme right groups maintain a presence on social media whilst evading content moderation efforts. My background is primarily based in the Social Sciences, with a BSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a MA in Cyber Crime and Terrorism. Furthering this, I have gained experience with Computer Science through a MSc qualification. The merging of these two disciplines, although not essential, stood me in good stead over the course of the month.
The structure of this placement scheme can be understood in three distinct phases: (1) explore and pitch, (2) draft, and (3) condense and feedback.
The first phase of exploring and pitching offered a unique experience to each of the secondees who took part in the scheme. Although each secondee used the same overarching TCAP dataset, individuals and teams focussed on specific aspects of the data to form a number of distinct projects. This was decided over the first several days during which each of the secondees were free to explore the data and plan potential research avenues. During this period, I examined the numerous Excel files where I identified the potential scope for research into the role and strategies associated with hashtags. Following this ‘exploring’ phase each secondee pitched potential research avenues worth considering.
The subsequent phase entailed project selection and delivery. In this period of the project each of the potential projects were discussed and were refined, merged and allocated across the team to form seven distinct projects. Each of the projects being clearly distinct from the next; the topics that these projects explored are as follows: The Trident Division, AWD and affiliated groups, file-sharing sites (the project I was involved with), Uyghur Genocide and World News channels, hashtags, usernames, and alt-tech. Following the process of forming and allocating projects, groups then began working more independently. The unique aspect to this phase was that all members worked in the same space. As a result, despite working on separate outputs the secondees utilised each other’s strengths in a uniquely collaborative way throughout the scheme which resulted in higher quality, more robust research. Utilising the individual strengths of the secondees from coding knowledge, to Excel expertise to strategic insights of the field ensured that there was a constant flow of cross-pollination between projects.
Once these projects had the chance to develop, the third phase incorporated condensing work and feeding back. It is worthy to note that there was a presence of accountability and feedback throughout the month. This was present in the form of weekly meetings involving stakeholders and one another. This phase ultimately regarded feeding back to TAT and other international stakeholders invested in the scheme’s outputs. This involved producing a draft publication to later be published by the RESOLVE network. The contents of which would be used to form a short presentation to give stakeholders an insightful summary of each project and actionable recommendations based on the findings.
I have actively benefitted from this experience in a number of ways, but three key benefits are of most importance. Firstly, as an early career researcher, the CYTREC secondment offered a degree of exposure to the field and the people and organisations within it. Over the course of the month, I was put in the position to network with established academics and practitioners who would offer insights and advice to a degree to which I had not been previously exposed. I cannot understate the importance of this opportunity through how it has already offered me new opportunities in the months following its conclusion. An example of this being scope to apply some of the research done in this project to a journal article in the coming months.
Secondly, having the opportunity to contribute to work alongside a stakeholder. The ongoing relationship with multiple stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of the project brought about a unique workplace dynamic that I had not previously been exposed to in academia. The need to communicate concise ideas, act on feedback in a timely manner and consider the practitioner-based target audience of the work had an ongoing impact on how the project formed.
Finally, the interdisciplinary nature of the secondment allowed me to not only utilise my skills but to develop new ones. An example of a developed skill would be presenting. I have presented in a number of contexts prior to this placement, however, presenting in front of numerous stakeholders forced me to hone my previously established presenting skills through applying them to this unique context.
Furthermore, several of the projects were collated to form a panel at Deakin University’s AVERT conference which will further strengthen these skills as well as provide invaluable experience and exposure. Equally, prior to this project I had had a limited amount of exposure to quantitative data analysis. The secondment offered me the chance to develop these skills under the guidance of experts. And, as a result, I was able contribute to a document providing recommendations to TAT’s development of the TCAP. These three points in tandem offered an invaluable experience, one that I would highly recommend to other early career researchers as well as established researchers and industry partners alike.
