London, UK – The British government has announced a wide-ranging, independent parliamentary inquiry into attempts at foreign interference in the UK’s democratic affairs. Among these attempts is the role played by Iran’s “cyber army” in fueling the Scottish independence debate.
Tehran’s robots under scrutiny
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander confirmed that the investigation will examine intelligence and technical reports. These reports indicate that automated accounts (bots) operated from within Iran are actively promoting Scottish independence. Alexander explained that the research revealed systematic Iranian activity aimed at influencing “the future of the Scottish constitution.”
Indicators of the “12-Day War”: The British minister revealed a striking security observation. The number of automated accounts promoting independence saw a sharp and sudden decrease following the recent Israeli and American attacks on Iran. This reinforces the hypothesis that the management centers for these accounts are located within Iranian territory and were affected by the military operations.
Technical evidence and the shock of the “geographical location”
The report cited several pieces of evidence that reinforced the need for this investigation. An Israeli company specializing in combating disinformation detected the return of more than 1,300 fake accounts impersonating British citizens supporting independence. This occurred after a 16-day hiatus during the war.
The new “geolocation” feature on the X platform revealed that a number of the most prominent accounts identifying themselves as “Scottish activists” are actually being operated from within Iran.
The Telegraph reported on the sudden shutdown of accounts that were responsible for more than 250,000 pro-secession posts.
The investigation will not be limited to Iran alone, but will include other avenues to ensure the integrity of the political process:
He examined the methods of financing political parties through cryptocurrencies to avoid money laundering or suspicious foreign funding.
The investigation comes after a scandal involving the jailing of a former member of the European Parliament on charges of accepting Russian bribes.
كما أثيرت تساؤلات حول ما إذا كان التحقيق سيشمل “مجموعات برلمانية” تلقت أموالاً من الحكومة الإسرائيلية مؤخراً. هذا لضمان عدم وجود معايير مزدوجة في فحص النفوذ الأجنبي.
Iranian disinformation army
British officials have concluded that Iran’s “cyber army” is no longer merely a domestic propaganda tool. It has transformed into an arm for generating and distributing disinformation on a global scale. The goal is to “engineer public opinion” and sow divisions within Western societies.
