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

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.