A novel approach for inhibiting misinformation propagation in human mobile opportunistic networks

Abstract

Mobile Opportunistic Networks (MONs) are effective solutions to uphold communications in the situations where traditional communication networks are unavailable. In MONs, messages can be disseminated among mobile nodes in an epidemic and delay-tolerant manner. However, MONs can be abused to disseminate misinformation causing undesirable effects in the general public, such as panic and misunderstanding. To deal with this issue, we first propose a formal model to formulate the process of misinformation propagation in MONs, considering human psychological behaviors. Secondly, we explore a general framework to describe the random node mobility, and derive a new contact rate between nodes, which is closely related to mobility properties of nodes. Thirdly, we propose a novel approach based on vaccination and treatment strategies for inhibiting misinformation propagation in human MONs. Moreover, a novel pulse control model of misinformation propagation is developed. Finally, through the derivation and stability analysis of a misinformation-free period solution of the proposed model, we obtain a threshold upon which misinformation dies out in a human MON. The extensive simulation results validate our theoretical analysis.