Coordinated influence campaigns are increasingly exploiting the comment sections of major European public service broadcasters to shape political narratives. A multi-outlet investigation led by the ORF analyzed millions of Instagram comments between April 2025 and March 2026, uncovering a mix of automated bot networks and organized activist groups targeting news coverage of the Iran conflict. These campaigns leverage the established credibility of news organizations to amplify specific political agendas, often bypassing platform filters through AI-assisted text modification.
How Coordinated Networks Infiltrate News Feeds
The ORF investigation utilized a custom-built program to monitor Instagram interactions across nine major European outlets, including Germany’s Tagesschau and ZDFheute, France 24, and Swissinfo. Researchers identified networks by tracking accounts that posted similar messages in rapid succession. In one instance, 57 accounts commented on a Tagesschau post within seconds; hours later, 27 accounts repeated the exact message on a ZDFheute post.
According to Alberto Fittarelli, a researcher at the University of Toronto, this strategy is designed to create a false sense of consensus. By flooding comment sections, these groups effectively crowd out dissenting opinions. Fittarelli notes that neutral readers are susceptible to this, where a stream of uniform comments influences their perception of public opinion.
Campaign organizers now use artificial intelligence to alter the tone of pre-written comment templates. By shifting the sentiment toward “angry” or “persistent,” they actively attempt to bypass automated moderation filters used by social media platforms.
The Role of Pro-Regime and Opposition Narratives
The study highlights two distinct types of activity: automated pro-regime propaganda and coordinated, human-led opposition campaigns. Pro-regime messages often appeared during coverage of the Iran-war, framing the state as a victim of international aggression. Walter Posch, an Iran expert at the Landesverteidigungsakademie, explains that this aligns with official narratives seeking to present the Iranian government as a legitimate state actor under illegal attack.
Conversely, opposition activists—including those supporting Reza Pahlavi—utilized more “authentic” looking accounts. These profiles often have years of history and personal content, making them harder for platform algorithms to flag. These groups frequently coordinated via Telegram channels, where they distributed ready-made comment templates in multiple languages. These waves of comments were observed moving across various European news channels, starting with France 24 in January and spreading through the network by the end of the month.
Why News Organizations Are Prime Targets
Targeting public service broadcasters is a strategic choice. Because these outlets hold high levels of institutional trust, their comment sections become “high-value real estate” for influence operations. By embedding their messages beneath a verified news report, bot networks and activists “inherit” the credibility of the source.
Posch points out that this shift is part of a broader trend. As younger generations—the so-called “digital natives”—move away from traditional television, the battle for political influence has followed them into the comment sections of the very organizations they are beginning to ignore. This migration ensures that even as traditional reach declines, the power to define the narrative remains contested in the digital space.
Pro Tip: Spotting Coordinated Activity
Look for repetition. If you see dozens of comments using the exact same phrasing, emojis, or hashtags within a short timeframe, you are likely viewing the results of a coordinated campaign rather than organic public discourse.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do these groups coordinate their comments?
Investigations point to private Telegram channels and websites that distribute pre-written templates and instructions, sometimes using AI to vary the text to avoid spam filters. - Are these accounts always bots?
Not necessarily. While bots are used for high-volume, rapid-fire posting, many campaigns rely on “authentic-looking” accounts—real people who participate in organized efforts to sway public opinion. - Why do platforms struggle to stop this?
Platforms use automated filters to block spam, but as researchers have noted, campaign organizers are increasingly using AI to rewrite templates, making each comment unique enough to potentially bypass detection.
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