Detecting and Combating Misinformation Bots

Automation is not always benign. Misinformation bots mass-produce and amplify false content on social platforms to manipulate opinion at scale.

As a responsible developer, understanding these abuses helps you build defenses and avoid contributing to them.

Coordinated bot networks (botnets) create many fake accounts that:

• Post identical or templated content.
• Amplify a message by mass-liking and resharing.
• Activate in synchronized bursts.

The goal is to fake grassroots consensus, called astroturfing.