CFL - Cyber Forensic Linguistics Series
Since the International Language and Law Association (illa.online) was founded at HHU in 2005, a number of courses at HHU and events in the city have dealt with forensic linguistics in addition to linguistic aspects of law. Modern forensic linguistics is increasingly using AI-based methods to identify and investigate crimes committed with language (such as hate speech or the dissemination of 'terrorist narratives') or that leave linguistic traces (‘traces’ and 'evidence'), and with increasing success. The lecture series aims to provide an initial overview of such applications of modern data science, its methods, and possibilities.
Prof. Dr. Tatjana Scheffler, Ruhr-University Bochum
Thursday, February 5 2026, 10:00 am
Place: HHU Düsseldorf, 23.21.00.46
Digital forensic linguistics: Lies, manipulation, and disinformation via language
Digital texts can be used not only to communicate information or express feelings. They also can serve to lie and deceive. But how can lies be defined? Can emojis or pictures also be used to lie?
And what linguistic features can be used to identify disinformation and linguistic manipulation, for example using automatic methods? The presentation presents the field of "Digital Forensic Linguistics", which deals with these questions, among others.