On Feb. 17, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) disrupted the activity of a network of “bot farms”—an extensive, organized effort to create “fake” (automated) social media accounts, which was found to be active across multiple regions of Ukraine. According to the SSU, the technical equipment used by the operators of these “bot farms” was supported by Russian online services. The SSU’s investigation showed that the network had registered more than 8,000 active fake accounts on different popular social media platforms. The main purpose of those bot accounts included, among other elements, spreading false information about the situation in Ukraine, instigating street protests, and subverting popular sentiments. The bots’ destructive activities specifically included dispatching fake bomb threats to critical infrastructure objects and installations in Ukraine; attacking the online accounts of top Ukrainian politicians with disinformation; as well as operating as points of sale for firearms, explosive devices and drugs to anonymous users (Ssu.gov.ua, Feb. 17).
Russia's War Against Ukraine
OP-ED
Alla Hurska: Russian ‘bot farms’ challenge Ukraine’s security
An officer of the Ukrainian Cyberpolice Department works in an office in the department building in Kyiv on June 29, 2017.
