Valdis Krebs

Valdis Krebs is an American-Latvian researcher, author, and consultant in the field of social and organizational network analysis. He is the founder and chief scientist of OrgNet, LLC, and the creator of InFlow software, which Wired Magazine called one of the most advanced tools for analyzing and visualizing networks.[1] Popular Science has described Krebs as a "leading expert"[2] and a "pioneer" of network analysis,[3] while Military.com's DefenseTech blog has called him a leading authority in the field.[4]

Work highlights

After the September 11 attacks, Krebs used public information and newspaper clippings to produce a partial map of the organization behind the attacks. The resulting paper, Uncloaking Terrorist Networks, has been called a classic, and "likely the most cited public analysis of the 9/11 network."[5] After publishing it, he was "invited to Washington to brief intelligence contractors."[6]

Since 2004 Krebs has periodically published infographics showing the political polarization of American book-buying patterns.[7][8] He has claimed that the web leads people to narrower, more extreme viewpoints[1] (similar to the "bubble effect"), and suggests cultivating diversity in social networks,[9] a process he calls "network weaving".[10]

Krebs has used social network maps to provide evidence of corruption,[11] help a non-profit group prosecute a slumlord conspiracy,[12] and visualize the "ecosystem" of fraud in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal.[13] He has also consulted for corporate clients including IBM and Google.[11]

References

1. Fermoso, Jose (22 Oct 2008). "What Facebook and Steroid Use Have in Common". Wired.com. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
2. Pacella, Rena Marie (1 Aug 2006). "Tied To a Terrorist". Popular Science. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
3. Schachtman, Noah (1 Aug 2006). "Big Brother 101". Popular Science. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
4. Axe, David. "NSA Sweep "Waste of Time," Analyst Says". DefenseTech. Military.com. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
5. Weinberger, Sharon. "Case Study: Connecting the 9/11 Hijackers". War 2.0. Medill National Security Journalism Initiative. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
6. Keefe, Patrick Radden (March 12, 2006). "Can Network Theory Thwart Terrorists?". New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
7. Eakin, Emily (March 13, 2004). "Study Finds a Nation of Polarized Readers". New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
8. Sifry, Micah L. "2012 Political Book Buyers Less Polarized Than in 2008". TechPresident. Personal Democracy Media. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
9. Miemis, Venessa (2011-05-25). "Facebook: The Social Accelerator?". Forbes. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
10. Zolli, Andrew; Healy, Ann Marie. Resilience : why things bounce back. New York: Free Press. ISBN 1451683804.
11. Grzegorek, Vince (Jan 18, 2012). "Local Researcher Proves Dimora Was a Hack by Mapping County Corruption". Scene Magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
12. Murphy, Tom (2012-02-16). "Investigating Relationships with Social Network Analysis". Technology Voice. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
13. Walters, Helen (February 16, 2009). "The Tangled Web of Bernard Madoff's Network". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 24 January 2013.

External links

Krebs, Valdis (1 April 2002). "Uncloaking Terrorist Networks". First Monday. 7 (4). Retrieved 24 January 2013.