Foreign Interference in Australian Politics by Bots

A recent surge of pro-Linda Reynolds and pro-Gina Rinehart bots on the social media platform X has raised concerns about potential foreign interference in Australian politics. Timothy Graham, an associate professor at the Queensland University of Technology, suggests that these inauthentic accounts are likely orchestrated by a foreign state actor aiming to create discord regarding the health of liberal democracy. The repetitive nature of the posts, which lament “heartless attacks” on Reynolds and highlight Rinehart’s support for Australian sports, indicates a politically motivated agenda. Reports from Australian users of X over the weekend revealed numerous accounts echoing similar sentiments about Reynolds, with one user identifying 31 bots promoting her cause. These accounts exhibited striking similarities in their wording, posting times, and dates of creation, raising suspicions about their authenticity. One account, claiming to be from Missouri City, Texas, shared personal experiences of intimidation, while another from Woodbury, New York, criticized the political culture surrounding Reynolds. Graham emphasized that the overarching theme of these messages is to sow division and highlight perceived failures within liberal democracies. He noted that Australia is not the only target of these bots, which appear to be attempting to polarize discussions in other democracies, including Canada and the United States. Meanwhile, spokespeople for both Reynolds and Rinehart have denied any involvement with the bots, with Reynolds expressing unawareness of their existence.