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Study Finds Coordinated Bot Network Drove Taylor SwiftNazi’ Smears Online

Researchers say fringe claims were engineered to trigger engagement from real users.

Overview

  • GUDEA analyzed 24,679 posts from roughly 18,000 accounts across 14 platforms covering Oct. 4–18 after The Life of a Showgirl was released.
  • Just 3.77% of accounts drove 28% of the conversation, pushing conspiracies tying Swift to Nazism, MAGA themes, and so‑called “trad” messaging.
  • Inauthentic activity spiked Oct. 6–7 and again Oct. 13–14, when bot-like and conspiracist posts accounted for up to 40% of activity and 73.9% of discussion.
  • Claims seeded on fringe forums such as 4chan and KiwiFarms migrated to mainstream platforms as rebuttals by fans and influencers amplified their reach.
  • Researchers reported significant overlap with accounts attacking Blake Lively and said the operators and motive remain unknown.