Vladimir Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, reported on the disruption in Russian bot activity following attacks on Yandex data centers during the Warsaw Security Conference. He stated that "hatred, division, and provocations have decreased [because] the bots have decreased." However, Zelensky's office responded to BBC Verify, stating that he did not refer to a reduction in bot activity but rather spoke about the social media environment.
No Clear Evidence Regarding Bot Activity Disruption
So far, there is no clear evidence linking these attacks to a decrease in bot activity. Josef Holnburger, the executive director of the Center for Monitoring, Analysis, and Strategy (CeMAS), emphasized that "there is no significant reduction in Russian disinformation activities that can be attributed to the attack on Yandex data centers." CeMAS systematically monitors these campaigns.
Misleading Graph Published as Evidence
However, a misleading graph has been published as evidence. This graph, shared by Tomas Zdechovsky, a Member of the European Parliament from the Czech Republic, suggests that online activity related to AfD may have decreased, but no explanation is provided regarding the type of activity. In fact, this graph likely shows nothing specific.
The graph, in German titled "Daily Activity Over 3 Months," appears to show activities relatively stable and then sharply declining in early October, which approximately coincides with the attacks on Yandex data centers. However, nothing in the graph indicates that this is related to online activity associated with AfD.
Furthermore, the underlying data of the graph is unclear, and no source is provided for it. Additionally, the graph contains scaling errors that make the decline visually exaggerated. Moreover, there are data points for future dates in the graph, which is entirely impossible.
Ambiguity in the Use of Artificial Intelligence
It is unclear whether artificial intelligence was used to create this graph. Given the errors and the presentation of future data, the possibility of AI involvement cannot be dismissed. Misleading and error-filled graphs are regularly published and can enhance the credibility of unfounded claims.
In relation to claims regarding the reduction of bot activity, Cloudflare data is also frequently mentioned. However, Holnburger emphasized that there is a misunderstanding of the meaning of the Cloudflare report. He stated that "the reduction of bot activity on websites is entirely different from the reduction of inauthentic behavior by social bots on social media."
