Christo Wilson

Christo Wilson is a Full Professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University, where he also serves as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs. He is a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and an affiliate member of the Center for Law, Innovation and Creativity at Northeastern University School of Law. His research spans algorithm auditing, online privacy, cybersecurity, and the ethical implications of sociotechnical systems.

His research focuses on increasing transparency and accountability in algorithmic systems. Key areas include algorithmic bias in hiring, search engine personalization, price discrimination, and online tracking. He leads the Algorithm Auditing Research Group and is co-developing the National Internet Observatory, an NSF-funded initiative to provide ethical, large-scale data on online behavior.

His recent publications reveal trends in auditing major platforms like Google, Amazon, Uber, and YouTube, with a focus on fairness, transparency, and user empowerment. His work frequently appears in top venues such as IMC, CSCW, CHI, and Usenix Security, and has influenced policy debates on digital rights and AI regulation.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• NSF CAREER Award
• Sloan Fellowship (2019)
• Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award, Northeastern
• Best Paper Award, ICWSM 2023
• Outstanding Applied or Public Research Award, ICA
• IEEE Cybersecurity Award for Innovation (2017)
• Distinguished Paper Award, Usenix Security 2017

Wilson actively advises PhD and master’s students and has secured major funding from the NSF, Sloan Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Knight Foundation, and the European Commission. He has played a pivotal role in the Sandvig v. Barr lawsuit, contributing to the Supreme Court’s decision in Van Buren v. US, which clarified the scope of the CFAA. He is also a leader in the FAccT (formerly FAT*) conference community.

He leads research labs focused on algorithm auditing, PKI/TLS security, and online privacy. His team has developed open-source tools and datasets to empower researchers and regulators. The group’s work on dark patterns, ads.txt, and real-time bidding has provided critical insights into digital advertising ecosystems.