Some may not realize the context of this research. Consider the funding and authors. This solution is meant for and will be, what can effectively be called, weaponized. There are many efforts that will be quite interested in this research and will build it into their solutions that are sold to all the players we all so well know at this point, and others you have never heard of and never will.
Consider a future that is beyond the present in which social network analysis is used for identification, targeting, and disruption of social networks of all kinds ...something like OWS if you will...; when the subject type of research is implemented to understand how to prevent opposition by those who's interest it is that you and those around you don't oppose, cannot organize, and are disrupted faster by knowing exactly who the linchpin is that has to be neutralized to disperse any organization.
I am inclined to believe the reason for the lack of any meaningful protests and quite strange vanishment of OWS is in great part due to these new tools by the people in power. Meaningful protests would be against the using of taxpayer money to gift to private industries and the sellout ones digital life and rights to foreign countries.
Consider a future that is beyond the present in which social network analysis is used for identification, targeting, and disruption of social networks of all kinds ...something like OWS if you will...; when the subject type of research is implemented to understand how to prevent opposition by those who's interest it is that you and those around you don't oppose, cannot organize, and are disrupted faster by knowing exactly who the linchpin is that has to be neutralized to disperse any organization.