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.

About FOI

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