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| 'NHS Susan' and those Twitter bot rumours: What we know | 'NHS Susan' and those Twitter bot rumours: What we know |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| There is no verifiable evidence for viral rumours implying the Department of Health was behind a network of Twitter accounts posing as NHS staff. | |
| In fact, there is not currently any verifiable evidence that these accounts existed at all. | In fact, there is not currently any verifiable evidence that these accounts existed at all. |
| The claims, which began on Twitter but spread to Facebook, were called out as "categorically false" by the DHSC. | The claims, which began on Twitter but spread to Facebook, were called out as "categorically false" by the DHSC. |
| Twitter said it had not seen evidence linking the government to a network of fake accounts. | |
| These accounts, allegedly fake "bots" posting in support of the government, appear to have been deleted. | These accounts, allegedly fake "bots" posting in support of the government, appear to have been deleted. |
| It is unclear whether this was by whoever was running the accounts. or by Twitter who say they "remove any pockets of smaller coordinated attempts to distort or inorganically influence the conversation". | It is unclear whether this was by whoever was running the accounts. or by Twitter who say they "remove any pockets of smaller coordinated attempts to distort or inorganically influence the conversation". |
| The only thing we have to analyse is an alleged screenshot of one of the fake accounts which was shared as an example of this network. | The only thing we have to analyse is an alleged screenshot of one of the fake accounts which was shared as an example of this network. |
| It used the name NHS Susan and claimed to belong to a junior doctor. There are immediately a number of red flags. | It used the name NHS Susan and claimed to belong to a junior doctor. There are immediately a number of red flags. |
| The profile in the screenshot was using a photo of an actual NHS nurse with a different name. | The profile in the screenshot was using a photo of an actual NHS nurse with a different name. |
| The description in the profile's bio said she was "transitioning in 2020" and "fighting COVID on behalf of all LGBTQ & non-binary people'. 'Susan' was also said to be deaf. | The description in the profile's bio said she was "transitioning in 2020" and "fighting COVID on behalf of all LGBTQ & non-binary people'. 'Susan' was also said to be deaf. |
| This description, along with a number of tweets allegedly made by the account, could point towards the profile being satire or looking to provoke a reaction. | This description, along with a number of tweets allegedly made by the account, could point towards the profile being satire or looking to provoke a reaction. |
| Misleading information or accounts that evoke an emotional reaction are more likely to go viral as are claims that inspire an emotional reaction from us. | Misleading information or accounts that evoke an emotional reaction are more likely to go viral as are claims that inspire an emotional reaction from us. |
| During the general election, there was evidence of people pretending to be bots on Boris Johnson's Facebook page as a joke or in order to inspire a reaction. | During the general election, there was evidence of people pretending to be bots on Boris Johnson's Facebook page as a joke or in order to inspire a reaction. |
| Until there is any evidence to suggest these allegations are true, whilst it's useful to interrogate them, it is unhelpful to re-share them. | Until there is any evidence to suggest these allegations are true, whilst it's useful to interrogate them, it is unhelpful to re-share them. |