AI-driven bot network behind information impact on Sweden

The authority for psychological defense (MPF) calls it "Holiday".

An AI-driven bot network on platform X, where around 1,200 accounts in 2025 and 2026 were used for improper information influence against Sweden and several other countries.

During the period, the network has made over 50,000 posts, comments and shares, with the ambition of strengthening the polarization in Swedish society.

This is according to a report from MPF, which chose to call the network "Holiday" because the accounts also posted about football and holidays, presumably to appear human.

But it's not about real people. Accounts with common names such as "Peter", "Markus" and "Eva" are said to have been created by a supplier in East Asia, and according to MPF's report, the supplier is financed by a state actor.

Several of the accounts previously had other names, and posted in other languages, to other target groups – for example, messages directed at people in Taiwan. This may be because the accounts were previously used by the supplier in other campaigns.

The bot network was primarily active in the fall of 2025 and spring of 2026 before it was shut down, so according to Karin Lönnheden, operational manager at MPF, it is not directly connected to the election in Sweden in the fall of 2026.

- However, we think it is important to get the knowledge out about this, because we are so close to the election. That awareness is good for Swedish voters to have.

In the video above, Karin Lönnheden tells more about the bot network.