Diego Perna

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Diego Perna is a leading researcher in the detection and analysis of social bots, with a particular focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, online manipulation, and cybersecurity. His most-cited work, "Learning to Rank Social Bots" (2018, 12 citations), introduced a novel machine learning framework that treats bot detection as a ranking problem, significantly improving the accuracy of identifying automated accounts on social media platforms. This contribution has been pivotal in understanding how software robots, once dismissed as harmless, now serve as key tools for disseminating disinformation and influencing real-world events. Perna’s research has helped expose the mechanisms by which bots amplify polarizing content, manipulate public opinion, and undermine democratic processes. His work is widely referenced in studies on computational propaganda and platform governance, and he is recognized for bridging technical innovation with pressing societal challenges. By advancing methods to distinguish human from automated behavior, Perna continues to shape the fight against digital manipulation, making his research essential for students and scholars tackling the evolving threats of online misinformation.