Christo Wilson Associate Professor of Computer and Information Science, Director of the BS in Cybersecurity Program c.wilson@neu.edu 617.373.2177 Expertise cybersecurity, datacenter networks, online social networks, security and privacy Christo Wilson in the Press Invading your privacy? There’s an app for that. Christo Wilson, associate professor at the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University, said enforcement of California’s law is weak and consumer preferences are not always respected — but would be a step in the right direction. KCRW Cameras, not cashiers, let you ‘Just Walk Out’ of Sherman Oaks Whole Foods The watching and tracking and palm-scanning actually doesn’t represent a big jump in Amazon’s data collection on its customers, says Christo Wilson, associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University. Purchase history, web clicks, consumer preferences — “They already have this information,” he says. “It’s just being gathered now in kind of a new way.” Morning Brew What does an “audit” for bias in automated hiring tech really mean? Christo Wilson, an associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University, was hired by pymetrics to audit the platform for bias in 2020. Wilson and his team spent three months in 2020 analyzing the machine-learning input datasets, verifying that decisions passed the four-fifths rule (a rule of thumb established by the EEOC for organizations to evaluate […] Uber and Lyft are offering fuel surcharges and cash back offers for workers. Is it enough? According to Christo Wilson, an associate professor at Northeastern University who studied Uber’s algorithms several years ago, the companies could factor the price of fuel into the algorithm that determines how much drivers get paid. Visa Restrictions on Chinese Students Endanger U.S. Innovation Edge, Universities Say The tighter rules are slowing down work at research labs like the one run by Christo Wilson, an associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University in Boston, who studies how algorithms used by internet companies can reinforce biases or lead to price discrimination. MIT Technology Review These creepy fake humans herald a new age in AI For another, perfectly balanced data sets don’t automatically translate into perfectly fair AI systems, says Christo Wilson, an associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University. Medium Why We Think Our Phones Are Secretly Listening to Us “Apps were automatically taking screenshots of themselves and sending them to third parties,” sad Christo Wilson, a PhD student at Northeastern University, after examining multiple Android apps. Ars Technica Researchers have already tested YouTube’s algorithms for political bias Motivated by the long-running argument in Washington, DC, computer scientists at Northeastern University decided to investigate political bias in YouTube’s comment moderation. Salon Uber and Lyft price-gouge customers trying to flee Seattle shooting In a study “Peeking Beneath the Hood of Uber,” researchers at Northeastern University concluded that “on a micro-scale, surge prices have a strong, negative impact on passenger demand, and a weak, positive impact on car supply.” Trump Ads Alongside Russian Propaganda: It’s Not Collusion. It’s An Algorithm The nitty-gritty of exactly which user sees which ad is ultimately automated, and computers are getting increasingly sophisticated at matching users, channels and ads, according to Christo Wilson, a researcher who studies YouTube at Northeastern University. Christo Wilson for Northeastern Global News Google eliminating cookies could protect privacy. It could also make life more annoying for you on the internet Google eliminating cookies could protect privacy. It could also make life more annoying for you on the internet The decision by Google to remove third-party cookies raises concerns and potential annoyances for internet users, according to experts. Advertisers are tracking your every move, even in places you thought were off-limits Advertisers are tracking your every move, even in places you thought were off-limits Expert Christo Wilson explains how advertisers use your location and skirt unenforceable policies to reach you at sensitive places. ‘You are the role models.’ Northeastern celebrates achievement at 13th Annual Academic Honors Convocation ‘You are the role models.’ Northeastern celebrates achievement at 13th Annual Academic Honors Convocation Achievements were highlighted, including faculty awards recognizing the university’s global commitment that emphasized the theme of the day. Amazon’s new grocery store is watching our every move. But we asked for this. Amazon’s new grocery store is watching our every move. But we asked for this. In Amazon Go Grocery, customers are surveilled: Their purchases are tracked digitally, no cashiers required. But to two Northeastern professors, it’s simply a sign of the times, in which people accept surveillance and expect convenience. Uta Poiger, dean of Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities, did a Q&A with News@Northeastern Uta Poiger, dean of Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities, did a Q&A with News@Northeastern Northeastern is leading the way in the type of learning and knowledge that separates humans from machines. Uta Poiger, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, sat down with News@Northeastern to discuss her vision for integrating the liberal arts and new digital proficiencies. Northeastern professor wins Sloan Research Fellowship for work on Uber, Facebook, and YouTube Northeastern professor wins Sloan Research Fellowship for work on Uber, Facebook, and YouTube Christo Wilson, an associate professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, has received a Sloan Research Fellowship, which recognizes scholars who are early in their careers and among the most promising researchers in their fields. Are your apps spying on you? It depends. Are your apps spying on you? It depends. Northeastern researchers uncovered which Android apps are tracking your activity. Now Northeastern professor Christo Wilson takes us behind the screens. Before Trump’s angry tweet, he should have searched Google for Northeastern’s research Before Trump’s angry tweet, he should have searched Google for Northeastern’s research Could Google’s search engine influence the news that you receive? A team of Northeastern researchers found the answer. Is your smartphone spying on you? Is your smartphone spying on you? New research by Northeastern faculty and students shows that popular smartphone apps can secretly take screenshots of your phone activity and send it to third parties without your permission. Cambridge Analytica, Facebook data collection a ‘breach of trust’ not security Cambridge Analytica, Facebook data collection a ‘breach of trust’ not security Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that voter-profiling company Cambridge Analytica had obtained data on 50 million Facebook users—information it used in the 2016 presidential campaign. We spoke to three computer and information scientists about what exactly happened, and how it’s helping shine a light on some of the murkier areas of data collection.
Invading your privacy? There’s an app for that. Christo Wilson, associate professor at the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University, said enforcement of California’s law is weak and consumer preferences are not always respected — but would be a step in the right direction.
KCRW Cameras, not cashiers, let you ‘Just Walk Out’ of Sherman Oaks Whole Foods The watching and tracking and palm-scanning actually doesn’t represent a big jump in Amazon’s data collection on its customers, says Christo Wilson, associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University. Purchase history, web clicks, consumer preferences — “They already have this information,” he says. “It’s just being gathered now in kind of a new way.”
Morning Brew What does an “audit” for bias in automated hiring tech really mean? Christo Wilson, an associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University, was hired by pymetrics to audit the platform for bias in 2020. Wilson and his team spent three months in 2020 analyzing the machine-learning input datasets, verifying that decisions passed the four-fifths rule (a rule of thumb established by the EEOC for organizations to evaluate […]
Uber and Lyft are offering fuel surcharges and cash back offers for workers. Is it enough? According to Christo Wilson, an associate professor at Northeastern University who studied Uber’s algorithms several years ago, the companies could factor the price of fuel into the algorithm that determines how much drivers get paid.
Visa Restrictions on Chinese Students Endanger U.S. Innovation Edge, Universities Say The tighter rules are slowing down work at research labs like the one run by Christo Wilson, an associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University in Boston, who studies how algorithms used by internet companies can reinforce biases or lead to price discrimination.
MIT Technology Review These creepy fake humans herald a new age in AI For another, perfectly balanced data sets don’t automatically translate into perfectly fair AI systems, says Christo Wilson, an associate professor of computer science at Northeastern University.
Medium Why We Think Our Phones Are Secretly Listening to Us “Apps were automatically taking screenshots of themselves and sending them to third parties,” sad Christo Wilson, a PhD student at Northeastern University, after examining multiple Android apps.
Ars Technica Researchers have already tested YouTube’s algorithms for political bias Motivated by the long-running argument in Washington, DC, computer scientists at Northeastern University decided to investigate political bias in YouTube’s comment moderation.
Salon Uber and Lyft price-gouge customers trying to flee Seattle shooting In a study “Peeking Beneath the Hood of Uber,” researchers at Northeastern University concluded that “on a micro-scale, surge prices have a strong, negative impact on passenger demand, and a weak, positive impact on car supply.”
Trump Ads Alongside Russian Propaganda: It’s Not Collusion. It’s An Algorithm The nitty-gritty of exactly which user sees which ad is ultimately automated, and computers are getting increasingly sophisticated at matching users, channels and ads, according to Christo Wilson, a researcher who studies YouTube at Northeastern University.