Story perspectives

Labour MP Urges SNP to Combat Iranian Bot Interference

1/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Labour MP Graeme Downie criticized the Scottish National Party for not addressing Iranian social media bots in Scottish politics.
He said some SNP members shared content from these accounts that promote conspiracy theories harmful to democracy.
The Iranian government restricted internet access to curb protests, leading to a shutdown of these bot accounts.
Experts say this manipulation indicates foreign interference in UK politics, and Downie urged the SNP to act.

History

Historical Context

Since 2019, the Iranian government has frequently imposed internet blackouts to suppress protests, notably during the November 2019 demonstrations against fuel price hikes, which resulted in over 1,500 deaths. This tactic has led to the emergence of Iranian social media bots, contributing to misinformation and foreign interference in political discourse, raising concerns about the integrity of democratic processes in countries like the UK.

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Story summary

Labour MP Graeme Downie criticized the Scottish National Party for not addressing Iranian social media bots in Scottish politics.
He said some SNP members shared content from these accounts that promote conspiracy theories harmful to democracy.
The Iranian government restricted internet access to curb protests, leading to a shutdown of these bot accounts.
Experts say this manipulation indicates foreign interference in UK politics, and Downie urged the SNP to act.

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