Identifying Influential Nodes in the Spread of Criminal Information in Social Networks

The purpose of this work is to develop an algorithm and a method for identifying key nodes involved in the dissemination of criminal information within social networks. This study focuses on social network analysis (SNA) metrics that facilitate the detection of influential actors in organized groups, particularly activists who serve as primary disseminators of criminal content. The research objects include both the textual content and metadata of users on social media platforms such as "Vkontakte" and "YouTube." To achieve this goal, an algorithm for detecting nodes that distribute criminal information has been developed. A conceptual model has been constructed, integrating network analysis principles with computational techniques to assess influence. This model introduces a novel framework for evaluating social network nodes based on a combination of structural, semantic, and emotional factors. Specifically, it incorporates influence assessment metrics that consider the heterogeneous nature of content, including its linguistic features, sentiment, and patterns of engagement. Additionally, the model accounts for the emission dynamics of criminal content, allowing for a more precise determination of high-risk nodes within the network. A method for quantifying the influence of social network nodes engaged in criminal content dissemination has been formulated. This method utilizes centrality measures along with content analysis techniques to improve accuracy in detecting key actors. Experimental validation conducted on multiple real-world datasets (including VKontakte groups and known extremist networks) demonstrated that the proposed method achieves an accuracy of up to 80% in identifying the most influential criminal nodes. Compared to baseline centrality-based methods, our approach provides more reliable detection due to the integration of semantic-emotional metrics and emission indicators. The results confirm the practical value of the method in operational scenarios such as the early detection of criminal activity and the prioritization of threat actors for monitoring. These findings have strong implications for real-world applications in law enforcement and cybersecurity. By leveraging advanced algorithmic techniques for social network monitoring, authorities can proactively detect and mitigate the spread of criminal information.