Augusta University  Political Science Club : Co-Advisor

Augusta University  ONE Organization : Advisor

Augusta University Cyber Institute: Advisory Committee Member

Augusta University Honors Program: Committee Member

The Effect of Terrorism on Income Inequality

Telework and Work Flexibility in the United States Federal Government Post-Pandemic

The effects of COVID-19 on domestic and international security in democratic and authoritarian regimes

Artificial intelligence and information warfare in major power states: how the US, China, and Russia are using artificial intelligence in their information warfare and influence operations

Weaponizing Words: Using Technology to Proliferate Information Warfare

Domestic terrorism, incumbency, and legislative vote shares

Destabilizing effects of terrorism on party system stability

Does accountability matter? How electoral systems affect conflict initiation

Military Spending and Electoral Systems: A Reconsideration

Democracy and cyberconflict: how regime type affects state-sponsored cyberattacks

Epidemiological intelligence fusion centers: health security and COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Artificial Intelligence, and Domestic Conflict

The Effects of Social Media, Elites, and Political Polarization on Civil Conflict

The effects of social media on domestic terrorism

Understanding the cyber-victimization of young people: A test of routine activities theory

The Double-Edged Sword of Foreign Direct Investment on Domestic Terrorism

Community-level internet connectivity and mental health: an analysis of United States counties

Social media, disinformation, and democracy: how different types of social media usage affect democracy cross-nationally

Augusta University is Georgia's health sciences university and a national center for cyber security education. Home to the state’s only public academic medical center, Augusta’s world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. The university is comprised of nine colleges, including one of the nation's oldest medical schools, the Medical College of Georgia; the Hull College of Business; and the state's only dental school, the Dental College of Georgia.

Augusta University

Hunter is an assistant professor of political science with a background in international relations. His research focuses on how terrorist attacks influence politics in democratic countries and how political decisions within countries affect conflicts worldwide. His work has appeared in journals such as: Journal of Peace Research, Terrorism and Political Violence, Party Politics, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Armed Forces and Society, Conflict, Security and Development, and the International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies. Hunter teaches courses in international relations, security studies, and research methods. He received his PhD in Political Science from Texas Tech University in 2011.

Politics

Terrorism

International Relations

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Civil Liberties

News and press release archive for Lance Hunter

Faculty Profile

A 'perfect tool' to increase division: Augusta University professor talks TikTok ban

What role will artificial intelligence play in 2024 presidential election?

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Local political science professor shares his study on mass shootings

Was it terrorism? Local expert weighs in on mass shooting in Buffalo

How governments use artificial intelligence to enhance their information warfare and influence operations

“They do want to influence elections at times, absolutely. But one of their other goals, and sometimes even more predominant goals for them is to increase division, increase polarization, and that’s a great way to do that. Even if you have a temporary reaction, you’ve increased that division which could have longer term effects.”    

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What is one of the main goals of China's use of TikTok to influence people?


“One thing the average person can do is be very wary of what you’re seeing and ask yourself does this seem legitimate?” he added. “If everyone is saying the exact same thing, that’s a tell sometimes. Also, where does this information originate from and what are the timestamps on the posts? Something else is to look at the individual who made the post. Who are these people and who’s following them? You may be able to see if they are legitimate accounts.”

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What are best practices for the public to decipher between AI generated posts and what's legitimate?


“One, it’s the data gathering, and that can be used for micro targeting because basically what TikTok can do is collect the data, and provide information as to what certain individuals respond to an this is exactly how you can persuade them.” “Also, there is empirical evidence that China has used TikTok before to try to influence elections to some degree. One example in the 2022 midterm elections in which some candidates from both parties were targeted by TikTok accounts that were controlled by a propaganda agency operating within the Chinese government.” 

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How does TikTok play a role in informational warfare? 


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Professor of Political Science

TikTok is one of the most popular social media sites in the world. In the United States, more than 170 million people and businesses use the app on a regular basis.Now, the federal government has taken the first step in banning the China-based app unless the ownership group, ByteDance, sells TikTok. The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill in support of the ban, and now it awaits Congress to act. President Joe Biden has indicated he would sign the bill banning TikTok unless it’s sold, but whether it reaches his desk remains to be seen.This stems from the fear that China uses user information to their advantage. According to Lance Hunter, PhD, associate professor of political science in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the concern is well deserved. “Even if it’s a privately-owned enterprise, China can still control it, they can still manipulate it to some degree as if it was a state -owned enterprise,” said Hunter.Hunter’s research focuses on how informational warfare attacks influence politics worldwide. He said the algorithm TikTok uses can play a major role in informational warfare on two fronts.“One, it’s the data gathering, and that can be used for micro targeting because basically what TikTok can do is collect the data and provide information as to what certain individuals respond to an this is exactly how you can persuade them.”“Also, there is empirical evidence that China has used TikTok before to try to influence elections to some degree. One example in the 2022 midterm elections in which some candidates from both parties were targeted by TikTok accounts that were controlled by a propaganda agency operating within the Chinese government.”Hunter added the TikTok algorithm is more advanced than some other social media platforms and more effective in knowing what people like and why they like it.With so many AI-generated posts, it can be difficult for the consumer to decipher what is legitimate, and what isn’t. There are some red flags for people to be on the lookout for.“One thing the average person can do is be very wary of what you’re seeing and ask yourself does this seem legitimate?” he added. “If everyone is saying the exact same thing, that’s a tell sometimes. Also, where does this information originate from, and what are the timestamps on the posts? Something else is to look at the individual who made the post. Who are these people and who’s following them? You may be able to see if they are legitimate accounts.”While China, and Russia for that matter, are trying to influence people in several ways, Hunter said they are also trying to cause division among the American people.“They do want to influence elections at times, absolutely. But one of their other goals, and sometimes even more predominant goals for them, is to increase division, increase polarization, and that’s a great way to do that,” Hunter said. “Even if you have a temporary reaction, you’ve increased that division which could have longer term effects.”Are you covering this important and ongoing story? Then let us help with your stories and questions.Lance Hunter is an assistant professor of political science with a background in international relations. His research focuses on how terrorist attacks influence politics in democratic countries and how political decisions within countries affect conflicts worldwide.He is available to speak with media about this important topic - simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

Tackling Tik Tok - Our expert explains what the problem is and what's next for the Chinese owned app

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With a potential indictment and even arrest of former President Donald Trump expected to happen sometime this week, there's serious concern about protests among a further divided American people.As news is now shared instantaneously via social media, recent history shows how effective that platform can be, as well as how dangerous and violent the reaction and outcome can be.Lance Hunter, PhD, associate professor in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies program at Augusta University, recently was part of two studies that show evidence linking social media to political violence, including domestic terrorism and civil conflict.The studies included over 150 countries and covered the time frame 2000 to 2019.“When social media is dangerous is when it increases polarization," said Hunter. "When it’s used to spread disinformation that disinformation can have a polarizing effect on citizens around the world, and that polarization is associated with political violence.”The study concluded in 2019, but there have been instances of violence in the U.S. since then. Hunter said researchers may continue to speculate on the relationship between social media posts and the acts of domestic terrorism.“There is a noticeable effect that social media can really influence political violence, especially if it’s used for disinformation purposes. I think maybe it’s just something to think about going forward for governments and citizens regarding how we should approach social media because I think with any type of technology, it can be used for good or for evil.”For now, it's all eyes across multiple platforms and influential personalities to monitor the situation as the country waits for what may come.Are you covering this important topic? Then let our experts help with your stories and questions.Hunter is an assistant professor of political science with a background in international relations. His research focuses on how terrorist attacks influence politics in democratic countries and how political decisions within countries affect conflicts worldwide.Hunter is available to speak with media about this important topic - simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today. 

What role will social media play as Trump supporters rally and react?

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There is no question social media has an impact on today’s society. Worldwide there isn’t much research available with empirical evidence showing its effect.Lance Hunter, PhD, associate professor in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the Masters of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies program at Augusta University recently was part of two studies that show evidence linking social media to political violence including domestic terrorism and civil conflict.The studies included over 150 countries and covered the time frame 2000 to 2019.“One of the things we found very interesting is the amount of time that people spend on social media on average within each country per year. It really does matter in affecting the amount of domestic terrorism within countries,” said Hunter.While many are focused on what happens domestically, Hunter found that some countries have more social media usage as compared to the United States and have varying amounts of political violence within their countries.“When social media is dangerous is when it increases polarization. When it’s used to spread disinformation that disinformation can have a polarizing effect on citizens around the world, and that polarization is associated with political violence.”Even socio-economic factors can play a role in social media and its effect on people in a country.“Looking at our research and data and looking across democracies and non-democracies, different income levels of countries most developed, less developed, we see there is a noticeable effect that social media can really influence political violence, especially if it’s used for disinformation purposes.”He went on to add since their data ended in 2019, and there have been instances of violence in the U.S. since then, researchers may continue to speculate on the relationship between social media posts and the acts of domestic terrorism.Here's an excerpt from the journal's abstract in Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression:Much qualitative research has drawn an association between social media and domestic terrorism, with the studies reaching different conclusions. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether the surge in social media participation affects domestic terrorist events. Controlling for common explanations in the literature, we conduct a cross-national, time-series analysis of up to 151 countries from 2000 to 2019 to assess the impact of social media penetration on domestic terrorism. We ﬁnd that greater social media penetration increases the likelihood of domestic terrorism in countries as it supports extremists’ ability to recruit, mobilize, and train terrorists.Using mediation analysis, we also find that greater social media penetration amplifies online and political polarization, increasing the likelihood of domestic terrorism events. Our work indicates the possible mechanisms linking social media and domestic terrorism and the need to develop and apply appropriate counterterrorism strategies to mitigate terrorist operations.“There is a noticeable effect that social media can really influence political violence, especially if it’s used for disinformation purposes. I think maybe it’s just something to think about going forward for governments and citizens regarding how we should approach social media because I think with any type of technology, it can be used for good or for evil.”While there are countries that try to limit certain social media platforms depending on what information is being transmitted, there will likely be ways around any restrictions put in place.“When you’re thinking overall regarding social media, and we’re thinking about communication over social media, is that individuals at times do have certain technologies that they can circumvent those controls at times. So it can be a cat and mouse game between the government and the citizens.”Dr. Lance Hunter is an assistant professor of political science with a background in international relations. His research focuses on how terrorist attacks influence politics in democratic countries and how political decisions within countries affect conflicts worldwide.Hunter is available to speak with media about this important topic - simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

The effects of social media on domestic terrorism - Our experts have the answers

3Qs with Dr. Lance Hunter on terrorism and elections

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