X Transparency Unmasks Iranian Network Impersonating Scottish Independence Supporters
A coordinated Iranian influence network infiltrated Scotland's constitutional debate — now definitively proven by X's new transparency features
X’s new transparency features have definitively proven that a network of prominent social media accounts claiming to represent Scottish independence supporters was in fact operated from Iran, according to new evidence published by the UK Defence Journal. The revelation exposes a foreign influence campaign that embedded itself within Scotland’s constitutional debate while misleading genuine activists and elected officials.
Background Investigation
The UK Defence Journal had been monitoring a cluster of accounts that presented themselves as ordinary Scottish pro-independence activists. While the accounts deployed Scottish imagery, local vernacular, and familiar political references, their digital behavior raised red flags among researchers tracking inauthentic activity on social media platforms.
The most damning evidence emerged during Iran’s nationwide internet blackout in June 2025. Every account under observation went silent simultaneously when Iranian connectivity collapsed and only resumed posting after services were restored. Several accounts briefly pivoted to pro-Iran messaging before returning to Scottish independence content, a pattern now understood as directly connected to the infrastructure disruption.
Technical Evidence
X’s new transparency features display limited account origin data, including which regional app store is linked to the device used for access. The investigated accounts consistently show connection via the Iranian App Store with traffic routed through Dutch VPN servers.
All accounts followed identical creation patterns with single username changes at registration and maintained posting rhythms synchronized across the network at regimented intervals. Profile images contained AI-generated artifacts, and the personas had no traceable online presence outside the X platform.
The accounts operated as a coordinated network, amplifying each other’s content within seconds and recycling identical messaging to create the false impression of organic, widespread grassroots support.
Political Implications
Labour MP Graeme Downie characterized the operation as evidence that “Iran, as well as countries such as Russia and our other enemies, are actively seeking to subvert our democracy and discourse in Scotland and the UK,” describing it as part of an ongoing “grey war.”
Downie specifically criticized the Scottish National Party (SNP) for insufficient vigilance, noting that some elected SNP politicians had “unwittingly” shared content originating from these inauthentic accounts. He called for the party to address misinformation “much more robustly,” including content amplified by their own officials.
The UK Defence Journal emphasized that the revelation does not question the legitimacy of Scotland’s independence movement itself, which continues to attract genuine support from Scottish citizens. Rather, the concern centers on foreign state actors exploiting and manipulating that debate for strategic purposes.