Iran-linked bot network infiltrates Scottish independence discourse on X.

Cyabra, an AI-powered disinformation detection platform, has discovered a coordinated Iranian state-backed bot network that infiltrated online discourse around Scottish independence on X (formerly Twitter) between May and June 2025. The campaign, which involved 26% fake accounts, aimed to manipulate UK political sentiment and promote Iranian-aligned narratives. The network went silent after a military escalation between Israel and Iran but reemerged 16 days later.

In a significant discovery, Cyabra, an AI-powered disinformation detection platform, has uncovered a coordinated Iranian state-backed bot network that infiltrated online discourse around Scottish independence on X (formerly Twitter) between May and June 2025. The campaign, which involved 26% fake accounts, aimed to manipulate UK political sentiment and promote Iranian-aligned narratives [1].

Active between May and June 2025, the network published more than 3,000 coordinated messages, blending pro-independence, anti-Brexit, and anti-UK institutional themes to mimic grassroots sentiment and sway opinion in Iran’s favor. The campaign experienced a defining disruption beginning June 13, 2025, immediately following a military escalation between Israel and Iran. The Iranian-linked network went silent for 16 days—then reemerged with renewed coordination and a messaging pivot, praising Iran’s strength and mocking the West [1].

Dan Brahmy, CEO of Cyabra, noted, “The sudden disruption to Iran’s influence operations capabilities due to their war with Israel exposed the entire operation. It was like watching state-backed disinformation self-destruct in real time. When Iran paused, so did the bots revealing the strategy, the propaganda, and the 224 million views their fake campaign had already amassed” [1].

The network deployed AI-generated personas, recycled content, and strategic use of hashtags like #ScottishIndependence, #FreeScotland, and #BrexitBetrayal to infiltrate legitimate conversations. Cyabra’s platform traced these behaviors to known Iranian influence tactics. Importantly, authentic users unknowingly amplified the manipulated content, further obscuring the line between real discourse and engineered narratives [1].

Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (NASDAQ: TBMC), a blank-check special-purpose acquisition company. This move aims to leverage Cyabra’s expertise in real-time disinformation detection and Trailblazer’s financial resources to expand and enhance the platform’s capabilities [1].

References:
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/11/3114008/0/en/Cyabra-Uncovers-Iranian-Bot-Operation-Undermining-UK-Democracy.html