FOI/202500497033 · FOI · unclear
Correspondence regarding foreign state operations: FOI release
Information requested
1. Any advice, briefings, or guidance issued to Scottish Government Ministers in the calendar year 2025 regarding suspected foreign state influence operations, specifically relating to a suspected Iranian bot network (or "inauthentic coordinated behavior") operating on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in support of Scottish independence.
2. Any correspondence (including emails, letters, and internal memos) between Scottish Government Ministers and civil servants/officials in the calendar year 2025 regarding the same subject.
Response
Part one
Following a search of our records, this is a formal notice under Section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
Part two
Following a search of our records, one email was recovered which included a media headline relating to your requested topic. This media headline can be located in Annex A of this document.
Annex A
The following item is included as an extract as it was contained within an email with materials not in scope of your request
Item 1
Swinney aide followed Iranian infuencer Daily Telegraph - 01/12/2025 p1 News, Scottish. Jacob Freedland Scottish Reporter. JOHN SWINNEY'S top aide followed a pro-independence social media infuencer linked to Iran, it can be revealed.
About FOI
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Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Response Part one Following a search of our records, this is a formal notice under Section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
Attachments
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