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 Article 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.” Article 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 […] Article 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. Article 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. Article 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. Article 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. Article 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. Article 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.” Article 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. Article CNET News YouTube pledged to disable comments on videos with young kids. It hasn’t “Whatever they do, it’s never going to be perfect,” said Christo Wilson, a professor of computer science at Northeastern University. “We just have to accept that an adult could be flagged as a child, or it just doesn’t see a child. Regardless of how much machine learning they have, they need to have some sort […] Christo Wilson for Northeastern Global News 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. 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 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 Are your apps spying on you? It depends. Are your apps spying on you? It depends. 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? Cambridge Analytica, Facebook data collection a ‘breach of trust’ not security Cambridge Analytica, Facebook data collection a ‘breach of trust’ not security A closer look at the Uber hack, and what’s next A closer look at the Uber hack, and what’s next No one knew just how many Ubers and Lyfts were out there. Until now No one knew just how many Ubers and Lyfts were out there. Until now NU researchers Alan Mislove and Christo Wilson created a program that can determine the number of Uber and Lyft drivers in San Francisco. Tier 1 grant program spurs interdisciplinary research collaborations Tier 1 grant program spurs interdisciplinary research collaborations
Article 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.”
Article 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 […]
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.”
Article 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.
Article CNET News YouTube pledged to disable comments on videos with young kids. It hasn’t “Whatever they do, it’s never going to be perfect,” said Christo Wilson, a professor of computer science at Northeastern University. “We just have to accept that an adult could be flagged as a child, or it just doesn’t see a child. Regardless of how much machine learning they have, they need to have some sort […]