In a surprising turn of events, pro-Scottish independence accounts on the social media platform X have ceased all activity, coinciding with a significant internet blackout in Iran. This shutdown came into effect on January 8, as Iranian authorities attempted to suppress widespread protests across the nation. Experts have recently revealed that these social media profiles, which had been promoting messages for Scottish independence, are allegedly linked to the Iranian government.
The accounts, portraying themselves as regular Scottish citizens with names like 'Scottish Lad' Jake and 'Proud Scottish lass' Fiona, suddenly stopped their posts amid the Iranian internet restrictions. Stephen Kerr, a Member of the Scottish Parliament representing the Conservative Party, has urged the Westminster government to investigate these dubious connections. He criticized the Scottish National Party (SNP) and independence advocates for appearing indifferent to the influence exerted by what he described as an 'evil regime' on Scottish political discourse.
These now-suspended accounts have been identified as sharing a multitude of conspiracy theories and negative narratives about the United Kingdom in recent weeks. For instance, a message from the account operated by 'Fiona' alleged that significant pipeline constructions were underway near the Scottish border, purportedly aimed at redirecting water supplies to England. In another outlandish claim, the same profile suggested that extensive areas of the Scottish Highlands were being fenced off by the British government for use as a drone testing site.
Other false assertions propagated by various accounts within this network included allegations of a 'coup' staged by the British Army in Scotland, complete with tanks rolling down the Royal Mile. 'Jake' also claimed that essential medical supplies, such as insulin and antibiotics, were being rerouted from Scotland to southeast England, endangering Scottish lives in the process.
These suspected Iranian-linked accounts were first highlighted by the UK Defence Journal, which noted that they stopped all activity the moment Iran's internet was disabled. A study conducted by disinformation analysis firm Cyabra further indicated that a quarter of 5,000 pro-independence accounts examined during the summer were actually fake profiles tied to Iran, commonly referred to as 'Natbots.' Recent transparency features on X have also traced many separatist-supporting accounts back to Iran.
This issue has garnered attention from high-ranking officials, including Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, who recently announced plans for a new investigation into foreign political interference that will explore potential links between Iranian entities and Scottish independence promoters. Alexander remarked, 'There has been considerable research in recent years indicating Iranian activities concerning Scotland's constitutional future.' Former civil servant Philip Rycroft from the Scottish Government is set to lead this inquiry.
A prior security report from Westminster in 2020 found credible evidence suggesting that Russia had attempted to meddle in the Scottish independence referendum. When questioned about whether the upcoming investigation would consider Iranian influences on the independence debate, Mr. Alexander affirmed, "Yes. Following American actions against Iran, we observed a notable decline in the number of Iranian bots advocating for Scottish independence on local social media platforms. Therefore, it is both appropriate and necessary for the investigation to encompass all parties attempting to sway democratic processes within the UK."
Additionally, strikes carried out by Israeli and US forces against Iran in June also led to a noticeable drop in activity from pro-independence accounts on X.
Iran has seen over 600 protests erupt across all 31 provinces, resulting in a tragic death toll of 646 individuals and more than 10,700 arrests. Currently, Iran remains under an ongoing internet blackout, restricting access to only government-approved local websites while blocking international content.
These protests have been attributed to rising economic difficulties as well as mounting concerns regarding political repression and violations of civil rights.
