Investigation Reveals Coordinated Manipulation of Comments on European Public Broadcasters' Social Media
A probe found systematic manipulation of comment sections on several European public broadcasters' social media accounts, analyzing over 17.5 million comments.
A multi-week investigation by several European public broadcasters has uncovered coordinated manipulation of comment sections on their social media profiles. The study examined more than 17.5 million comments posted from April 2025 to March 2026 on Instagram and Facebook accounts of outlets including ORF (Austria), RTVE (Spain), RFI and France 24 (France), LRT (Lithuania), Swissinfo (Switzerland), BR24, ARD Tagesschau, and ZDFheute (Germany).
Researchers found systematic interference aimed at shaping public discourse. The entities behind the manipulation and their specific objectives have not yet been disclosed, but investigations are ongoing.
The findings raise concerns about the spread of disinformation and the integrity of public service media in the digital sphere. Experts call for stronger oversight and transparency from social media platforms.
