TWINE: Supporting assessment of trustworthiness of web information using linked data

Abstract

Trustworthiness of information is an important factor to be considered when users consume data on the Web environment, because it affects the decision of the users whether or not to utilize the information they find. In the worst case, by consuming untrustworthy information, users can arrive at a wrong decision. Therefore, it is necessary for Web users to have tool that can help them to assess the trustworthiness of the information they are consuming. In this paper, we proposed a prototype for helping Web users to evaluate the trustworthiness of Web information, by providing them supportive data about the Web information they are considering. Our prototype collects and integrates useful metadata based on practice trustworthiness criteria, using Linked Data, and presents the supportive information to the users. The results showed that using our prototype can improve the user's ability to assess the information, and whether or not to trust information. The users' trust level of the information was increased. In addition, the users were satisfied with the provided supportive information for helping them evaluate the trustworthiness of Web information.