The information environment in Finland during the coronavirus pandemic was extraordinary and intense in many ways. The spread of misinformation and the number of actors involved has reached unprecedented levels. The demand for accurate information was enormous and the situation was constantly evolving. Information was disseminated through various channels. Official information played a key role, but at the same time, social media posed challenges in the fight against false and misleading information.
Malicious bots increased significantly during the pandemic. The operation of bots – i.e. programs that imitate humans – has been particularly aggressive during the key measures for the coronavirus. These included, for example, the largest information campaigns on vaccinations and guidelines against the coronavirus. This was shown in a study that analyzed a total of 1.7 million tweets on the topic of COVID-19 on Twitter/X in Finland over the course of three years.
Bots accounted for 22 percent of messages, while bots typically generate about 11 percent of content on Twitter/X. Of the identified bot accounts, 36 percent (4,894) acted maliciously. In particular, they highlighted the unintentional dissemination of misinformation, i.e. incorrect information. About a quarter (about 460,000) of all messages contained incorrect information. About the same percentage of messages expressed negative attitudes towards vaccines.
According to the study, malicious bots used the Twitter account of the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) to intentionally spread disinformation, i.e. misleading information, but did not actually target THL. Bots have increased the effectiveness and reach of their posts in a number of ways. For example, they mentioned other accounts in 94 percent of their tweets. The bots also proved to be adaptable. their messages varied according to the situation.
The study used the latest version of Botometer (4.0) to classify bot accounts, going beyond simple identification to differentiate between regular bots and malicious bots specific to COVID-19. This distinction is critical, as it reveals that traditional binary classifications of bots are inadequate.
The findings highlight how normal bots often align with government messaging, boosting their credibility and influence, while malicious bots use more aggressive and deceptive tactics. Malicious bots may amplify false narratives, manipulate public opinion, and create confusion by blurring the line between credible and unreliable sources.”
Ali Unlu, Senior Researcher, lead author of the study
Bot activity should be considered in public health communication
Malicious bots are a persistent threat even after the peak of the pandemic. They continue to spread misinformation, particularly about vaccines, by exploiting public fears and skepticism.
The research suggests that these bots could have long-term effects on public trust in health institutions and highlights the importance of developing more sophisticated tools to detect and mitigate the influence of such bots.
“Public health agencies need to improve their monitoring and response strategies. Our study suggests preventive measures such as public education about bot activity and improved detection tools. The study also calls for more action from social media platforms to curb outright false information and account authenticity, which could significantly improve public trust and the effectiveness of public health communication,” says lead expert Tuukka Tammi from THL.
The non-English environment makes the research unique
Unlike most studies in this field, which are primarily in English, this research is one of the few that investigates social media bots in a non-English language, namely Finnish. This unique focus enables a detailed examination of external factors such as geographical dispersion and population diversity in Finland, providing valuable insights often overlooked in global studies.
“This study represents an important contribution to understanding the complex role of bots in public health communication, particularly in the context of a global health crisis. It highlights the dual nature of bot activity—where regular bots can support public health efforts , while malicious Bots pose a serious threat to public trust and the effectiveness of health messages.
The study was conducted as part of the joint research project ‘Crisis Narratives’ between Aalto University and THL and was funded by the Research Council of Finland from 2020 to 2024.
Source:
Journal Reference:
Unlu, A., et al. (2024). Uncovering the Hidden Threat: The Impact of Bots on COVID-19 Health Communication. Social Science Computing Review. doi.org/10.1177/08944393241275641.
