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Project Anonymizes Your Writing Style To Hide Your Identity

Posted by samzenpus on from the keeping-it-under-covers dept.

mikejuk writes "An open source project to combat 'stylometry,' the study of attributing authorship to documents based only on the linguistic style they exhibit, is proving that it is possible to change writing style to evade detection. Artificial Intelligence techniques are routinely used to detect plagiarism and recently were employed to reveal that Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling is indeed the author of The Cuckoo's Calling, which was published under the byline of Robert Galbraith. Now software is tackling the opposite problem — anonymizing writing style to protect the identity of the originator. The JStylo-Anonymouth (JSAN) framework is a work in progress at the Privacy, Security and Automation Lab (PSAL) at Drexel University. It analyzes a written text and detects features which could be used to identify the author. It then suggests changes that need to be made to avoid the author's stylistic fingerprint appearing in the work."

6 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. I don't know by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Funny

    How will it disguise my terrible opinions that are obviously wrong?

    1. Re:I don't know by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Those blend right in with the rest of the internet.

      --
      stuff |
    2. Re:I don't know by i+kan+reed · · Score: 3, Informative

      Dude, let it go, this thread was started on a post about how everyone's opinions are wrong. Not a good context for debate.

  2. The Cuckoo's Calling by Richard_at_work · · Score: 4, Informative

    Artificial Intelligence techniques are routinely used to detect plagiarism and recently were employed to reveal that Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling is indeed the author of The Cuckoo's Calling, which was published under the byline of Robert Galbraith.

    Uhm, what? It was revealed by someone at Rowlings agency tweeting it to a Sunday Times reporter, after the reporter commented on how good it was for a debut novel - that has all been confirmed by the agency.

    Unless the above line is badly phrased and is meant to say "recently were employed to confirm prior reports that..." - it didn't reveal anything of the sort, the link had already been revealed by plain old journalism.

    1. Re:The Cuckoo's Calling by jabuzz · · Score: 3, Informative

      No it was revealed by a partner at the law firm who should have known better, and should now face sanctions from the Law Society. Being struck of the register would be about right.

      On the other hand they have already reached an out of court settlement for a substantial sum, which probably came out the partners own pocket. I would also imagine the firm has lost the JKR account.

  3. Stephen King by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Stephen King seems to agree with you.

    In his book "On Writing", he explains (among many other good points) that one hallmark of good writing is finding the right combination of words for imagery.

    He uses examples like "I lit a cigarette, tasted like a plumber's handkerchief'" from Raymond Chandler and "'It was darker than a carload of assholes' by George V Higgins.

    The Odyssey (IIRC) has the phrase "it was a wine dark sea", so this has been around for a very long time.

    For casual writing the project may be useful, but I wonder how much imagery will be lost in translation.

    Many of the works of revolutionaries, radicals, and dissenters are memorable for their specific imagery. Simon Sinek analyzed "I have a dream", and noted the difference between "I have a dream" and "I have a plan". The two are very different, and have different effects on people. (Viz. TED talk "How Great Leaders Inspire Action")

    I'm doubtful that AI has progressed to the point where the mood and emotional content will be preserved in such a translation.

    To be effective, defiant writing will still require courage.