Social network security unit 3
UNIT – I
Introduction to the Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is an extension of the current World Wide Web (WWW) that aims to make data machine-
readable and meaningfully linked. It enables computers to understand, interpret, and process web content in a way
that enhances data integration, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Key Idea:
The current web is mainly designed for humans (text, images, videos).
The Semantic Web makes content structured and linked, allowing machines to process and understand it
intelligently.
Applications of the Semantic Web
A. Search Engines (Google Knowledge Graph)
Google Knowledge Graph links information, improving search accuracy.
Example: Searching for "Barack Obama" gives a knowledge box with structured data about him.
B. Personal Assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)
Understands user intent by analyzing structured semantic data.
C. Healthcare and Scientific Research
Medical ontologies link diseases, drugs, and symptoms.
Example: IBM Watson uses Semantic Web to recommend treatments.
D. E-commerce and Recommendation Systems
Amazon, Netflix use linked data to provide personalized recommendations.
Advantages of the Semantic Web
Better Search Accuracy – Context-aware search results.
Data Integration – Connects diverse datasets across different sources.
Automation & AI – Enables intelligent applications.
Interoperability – Standardized formats allow seamless data exchange.
Challenges of the Semantic Web
Complexity – Requires structured data and ontology design.
Scalability – Processing large RDF datasets is computationally expensive.
Adoption Issues – Many websites still rely on unstructured HTML content.
Limitations of the Current Web
The current Web (Web 2.0) has revolutionized communication, information sharing, and commerce, but it also
has several limitations related to data management, security, privacy, and intelligence. Below are some key
challenges:
1. Lack of Machine Understanding (Limited Intelligence)
The Web is designed for humans, not machines.
Search engines rely on keywords, not understanding context.
Example: A search for “apple” may return results for both Apple Inc. and the fruit without distinguishing meaning.
How the Semantic Web Improves This
The Semantic Web (Web 3.0) introduces metadata, ontologies, and linked data to give meaning to web content.
2. Poor Data Integration & Interoperability
Different websites use different data formats (JSON, XML, HTML, CSV).
Example: A hospital system and a fitness tracker may store health data in incompatible formats.
Why This Is a Problem
No standardized way to share or integrate data across platforms.
Data silos prevent seamless information exchange.
Potential Solution
The Semantic Web enables structured data formats (RDF, OWL, Linked Data) for better integration.
3. Privacy & Security Concerns
Web 2.0 relies on centralized platforms (Google, Facebook, Amazon), which collect and control vast amounts of
personal data.
Issues:
Mass surveillance (Governments & Corporations track user activity).
Data breaches (Facebook, Equifax leaks).
Lack of user control (Users don’t own their data).
Possible Solution: Decentralized Web (Web 3.0)
Blockchain-based Web enables self-sovereign identity and user-controlled data.
4. Fake News, Misinformation & Lack of Content Verification
Anyone can publish information without fact-checking.
Examples:
Fake news on social media influences elections.
AI-generated deepfakes mislead people.
Solution
AI-powered fact-checking systems integrated into search engines.
Blockchain-based verification for digital content authenticity.
5. Centralization & Monopoly Power
A few companies control most of the web:
Google (Search & Ads)
Facebook (Social Media)
Amazon (E-commerce & Cloud)
These companies influence what users see (filter bubbles, censorship).
Alternative: Decentralized Web (Web3)
Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks like IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) can reduce reliance on centralized servers.
6. Slow & Inefficient Web Performance
Loading speeds depend on central servers, leading to:
High latency in remote regions.
Server crashes affecting services.
Example: If AWS (Amazon Web Services) goes down, major websites crash.
Solution: Distributed Web Infrastructure
Edge computing and content delivery networks (CDNs) optimize web performance.
7. Lack of Personalization & Adaptive Interfaces
The Web does not fully adapt to individual preferences and behaviors.
Example: A visually impaired person may struggle to access web content due to poor accessibility features.
Solution: AI-Driven Adaptive Web
AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) can improve personalized content delivery.
Conclusion
The current Web has several limitations, but the evolution towards Web 3.0, the Semantic Web, and decentralized
technologies offers potential solutions to create a more intelligent, secure, and user-controlled web.
Development of the Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is an evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) aimed at making web data machine-readable,
structured, and interconnected. It enables AI-driven automation, better search results, and improved data integration
across different platforms.
Evolution of the Web
A. Web 1.0 (Static Web) – 1990s
The first generation of the web.
Read-only websites with static content (e.g., early Yahoo, Britannica).
No interactivity, no user-generated content.
B. Web 2.0 (Social & Interactive Web) – 2000s-Present
User-generated content (social media, blogs, wikis).
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Wikipedia.
Challenges:
Data silos (different platforms store data separately).
No machine understanding of web content.
