'Not all bots are bad': Facebook and Twitter respond to allegations of Russian interference in Brexit vote

Activists fear Russian bot accounts may have influenced the outcome of the Brexit vote
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Martin Coulter29 November 2017

Facebook and Twitter have responded to Government inquiries over online Russian interference in the EU referendum, with the latter saying: "Not all [bots] are bad".

The social media giants' were responding to demands from the UK Government's Digital Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee.

Their replies were published on Tuesday and shared on Twitter shortly after by committee chair Damian Collins, who has been campaigning for the firms to demonstrate greater online transparency.

Simon Milner, Facebook's UK policy director, said the company was "considering how [best to] respond to [a similar] request for information" from the Electoral Commission - which is also investigating hacking claims - promising they would have more information by mid-December.

Twitter bosses, however, sought to distance themselves from the controversy.

Nick Pickles, head of UK public policy, cited a study by City University, which said there was "no evidence supporting the notion that bots can substantively alter campaign communication".

An Internet bot, also known as a "web robot", is a software application that runs automated tasks online.

It was revealed earlier this month that the Twitter account that shared an image which it claimed showed a Muslim woman "ignoring victims of the Westminster terror attack" was a Russian bot.

Mr Pickles wrote: "We are currently undertaking investigations into these questions and intend to share our findings in the coming weeks.

"It is important to note that not all automated accounts (bots) are bad, whether posting air quality sensor readings or posting details of Wikipedia edits, while not all high activity accounts are bots.

"Twitter’s central control - users choosing to follow or unfollow an account to curate what appears in their timeline- is a robust defence against low-quality automated accounts."

Damian Collins MP has demanded information from Facebook and Twitter
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Quoting a study into hacking by City University experts, the response goes on: "We have not found evidence supporting the notion that bots can substantively alter campaign communication."

The firm says it takes down more than 3.2 "suspicious accounts" around the world every week - a figure which has more than doubled in the space of a year.

Both Facebook and Twitter have come under political pressure around the world, with accusations of Russian influencers using the online networks to influence votes in Britain, France, Germany and the US.

The Electoral Commission recently launched claims Russia used Twitter and Facebook to meddle in the UK’s EU referendum.

Committee chair Damian Collins told the Standard: "The British public have a right to understand the extent and scope of Russia’s disinformation campaign in the United Kingdom.

"The agreement of both Facebook and Twitter to provide the information that I requested to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee is critical to our understanding of Russian interference in our political process.

"I hope that Twitter is able to provide the Committee with this information within the same timeframe as Facebook, and I will be writing to them to clarify this.”

Gina Miller is backing calls for an independent inquiry
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Brexit lawyer Gina Miller recently backed calls for an official inquiry into the allegations, as suggested by Labour MP Ben Bradshaw in the House of Commons.

Speaking exclusively to the Standard, Ms Miller said: "The Electoral Commission, a quasi-governmental organisation, does not have the power or remit to deal with an investigation into Russian interference in the EU referendum. There has to be an independent inquiry.

"The UK is only part of a larger story which we have seen unfolding all over the world, in the American, French and German elections.

"We have to call into question what our government is doing. Where is their moral compass?"

Damian Collins says he intends to write back to both Facebook and Twitter shortly.

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