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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

Bots backing Linda Reynolds and Gina Rinehart likely a foreign state actor sowing division, expert says

Two way composite: Screengrab of tweets (left), person behind computer (right)
Repetitive posts by bots have been appearing on X (formerly Twitter) about ‘heartless attacks’ on Linda Reynolds. Composite: Getty Images/Screengrab from Twitter

A foreign state actor is likely responsible for a swarm of pro-Linda Reynolds and pro-Gina Rinehart bots on the social media site X as they appear intended to sow discord about the health of liberal democracy, an academic expert has said.

Repetitive posts from seemingly inauthentic accounts have appeared on X lamenting “heartless attacks” on Reynolds and noting Rinehart’s patronage of Australian sport.

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