Over 8,500 dubious X accounts linked to coordinated political amplification in Sweden
Researchers identified more than 8,500 suspicious X profiles that mass-followed Swedish political figures during the recent general election, many of which are registered in African and Asian locations.
In the lead-up to Sweden's general election, a study by Dutch firm Trollrensics, the non-profit Alliance4Europe and broadcaster SVT flagged more than 8,500 X accounts that displayed coordinated behaviour, such as identical posts, reused photographs and sudden creation spikes. These profiles, many registered in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Asian regions, followed thousands of genuine Swedish political accounts, with a noticeable bias toward right-wing figures linked to the Moderate Party.
Researchers argue the network serves a commercial amplification market, hiring operators—often from Africa or the United States—to inflate follower numbers and spread content through likes and reposts. Experts from the Media Forensics Hub noted the tactics resemble Russian influence operations that employ disposable accounts for propaganda. The findings arrive amid heightened concerns about foreign meddling in Sweden's election, which saw the opposition bloc led by Magdalena Andersson narrowly ahead of the governing alliance headed by Ulf Kristersson.
Why it matters
It reveals a large-scale, cross-border effort to manipulate public debate during a pivotal Swedish election.
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