Scotland's Independence Debate Hijacked: 26% of Posts Were Iranian Bots
A new investigation from Cyabra reveals apparent state-orchestrated campaign exploiting Scottish independence debate to advance Tehran's geopolitical agenda
A sophisticated Iranian influence operation targeting Western democratic discourse has been uncovered through an unlikely digital coincidence — a nationwide power blackout in Iran during its recent 12-Day-War with Israel — that inadvertently exposed thousands of coordinated fake social media accounts promoting Scottish independence and anti-British sentiment.
The investigation by cybersecurity firm Cyabra analyzed online conversations between May and June 2025, revealing that approximately 26% of profiles discussing Scottish independence were fake accounts operated as part of an apparent state-controlled network. The operation's scope extended far beyond regional politics, serving as a vehicle for broader Iranian strategic messaging aimed at destabilizing Western democratic institutions and reshaping geopolitical narratives in Tehran's favor.
The Blackout That Broke Cover
The network's exposure came through an unexpected vulnerability: Iran's nationwide blackout on June 13, 2025. Following an Israeli military operation against Iranian infrastructure, researchers observed a remarkable pattern. Hundreds of previously active social media accounts promoting Scottish independence simultaneously went silent for exactly 16 days.
According to the Cyabra report, "All at once, the fake profiles stopped posting. For more than two weeks, they vanished – no posts, no noise, just digital silence." When the accounts resumed activity, their messaging had undergone a coordinated shift from Scottish separatist content to pro-Iranian narratives defending Tehran's actions and mocking Western powers.
This synchronized blackout and messaging pivot provided what researchers describe as conclusive evidence of state control. "This coordinated blackout – followed by a synchronized return and sudden messaging shift – left little room for doubt. It was clear: this was a state-controlled operation caught mid-glitch," the investigation concluded.
Sophisticated Operation Targeting Democratic Discourse
The Iranian network demonstrated remarkable sophistication in its approach to infiltrating authentic political conversations. The 1,332 fake profiles collectively published over 3,092 pieces of content between May and June 2025, generating more than 126,000 user engagements and reaching an estimated 224 million potential views.
The operation employed multiple coordinated narratives designed to exploit existing divisions within British society. Primary themes included framing Scottish independence as inevitable and urgent, portraying Brexit as a democratic betrayal imposed on Scotland, and systematically attacking the credibility of British institutions including the BBC and Labour Party.
The fake accounts utilized AI-generated profile images, strategic use of Scottish slang, and emotionally charged hashtags such as #ScottishIndependenceASAP, #BrexitBetrayal, #BBCLies, and #LabourLies. This careful mimicry of authentic grassroots sentiment allowed the Iranian-controlled accounts to embed themselves seamlessly within legitimate political discourse.
Coordinated Amplification and Network Analysis
Detailed examination of individual accounts revealed the mechanized nature of the operation. Researchers identified clear coordination patterns including synchronized posting schedules, mutual amplification between fake accounts, and the systematic dissemination of near-identical content designed to simulate authentic public sentiment.
The investigation documented specific examples of coordinated behavior, including fake accounts that routinely shared each other's content in closed loops of amplification. These accounts published identical or near-identical posts using the same hashtags, phrases, and narrative structures within overlapping timeframes.
Post-Conflict Narrative Pivot Reveals State Direction
The network's behavior following the Israeli strike provided crucial insight into Iranian operational control and strategic messaging priorities. When the accounts resumed activity, they shifted focus to portraying Iran as a strong, moral actor standing up to U.S. and Israeli aggression while framing Western foreign policy as hypocritical.
The simultaneous maintenance of anti-British and pro-Iranian content revealed the operation's sophisticated approach to narrative integration. By continuing Scottish independence messaging alongside Iranian propaganda, the network sought to draw parallels between Scotland's independence movement and Iran's confrontation with Western powers.
Scale and Impact Assessment
The operation's documented reach raises significant concerns about the vulnerability of democratic discourse to foreign manipulation. With over 224 million potential views across six weeks of activity, the Iranian network demonstrated the capacity to influence public sentiment at scale through coordinated inauthentic behavior.
The investigation’s findings suggest that authentic users unknowingly amplified manipulated content, blurring the line between genuine political engagement and engineered narratives. This organic interaction helped the campaign achieve broader credibility while extending its reach beyond the fake accounts' direct followers.
The operation's success in embedding within authentic conversations highlights the sophisticated nature of modern state-sponsored influence campaigns and their ability to exploit platform algorithms and user behavior patterns to maximize exposure and impact.