Financial advice needs to follow a strict set of rules to ensure that people are not misled about the opportunities. Dr Robert Layton at the Internet Commerce Security Laboratory has been working with Sydney-based company Red Marker to develop a prototype online system that parses blog entries, looking for bad financial advice and misleading statements. The system uses natural language processing technologies to analyse the text, leading to an approach that works in a variety of circumstances. The technology will be used to help ensure that consumers are getting solid financial advice, and to search for fraudulent offers.

More information regarding Red Marker can be found at www.redmarker.com.au