Hundreds of fake accounts targeted Dutch parliamentary elections, study finds
Hundreds of fake social media accounts reportedly influenced, or tried to influence, the elections for the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, according to a study commissioned by RTL Nieuws. Researchers at the Dutch software company Trollrensics identified over 550 accounts on X, primarily originating from West African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana.
The goal of the network was to exaggerate the popularity of far-right and anti-establishment opinions and to sow greater social division. Retweets from the fake accounts most frequently boosted messages from Forum voor Democratie (FvD) and Geert Wilders (PVV).
Multiple experts pointed to strong signs of Russian involvement, noting that the support targeted at FvD is significant because the party is considered friendly toward Russia.
The fake accounts most often amplified posts alleging election fraud, which is a claim that Wilders also made after the PVV finished second in the elections behind D66.
The accounts boosted post visibility by flooding retweets and by extensively following small, extremely polarizing accounts. The accounts employed fake Dutch-sounding names with striking spellings, like Anock Van Dinik and Elizabath van dan Berg, and also used the names of famous Dutch personalities, including Jutta Leerdam and André Rieu.
While X has recently taken down several fake accounts, most remain active. The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) had previously warned social media platforms to act against election interference. The European Commission is investigating X over potential shortcomings in safeguarding the integrity of European elections.
A new feature on X allows users to see the country where an account is registered, exposing many nationalist accounts around the world as fake. Experts say X’s paid verification system may have incentivized users to produce content aimed mainly at boosting engagement.
Profiles of a similar nature have been observed on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, and the campaign is also aimed at other Western nations.
