Fake Bot Accounts Praise Azerbaijan’s Role as COP29 Host Amid Environmental Concerns

A new analysis has uncovered a network of at least 1,800 automated social media profiles, commonly referred to as bots, promoting Azerbaijan’s hosting of the upcoming U.N. Climate change Conference (COP29). The research, conducted by disinformation expert Marc Owen Jones at Northwestern University in Qatar, investigated approximately 2,800 accounts on social media platform X. These accounts were responsible for over 10,800 interactions including tweets, retweets, and replies between October 17 and October 24, primarily supporting Azerbaijan’s controversial role as host.

Jones’s findings reveal that nearly 75% of these accounts were created in 2023, with about two-thirds displaying activity patterns indicative of bots—accounts programmed to perform tasks faster and more frequently than humans. While the creator of these bots remains unidentified, their presence underscores attempts to enhance Azerbaijan’s global image amid criticisms of its human rights record and ongoing expansion in natural gas production.

Azerbaijan, a significant oil and gas producer, has been criticized for its environmental policies and is accused of attempting to use COP29 to improve its international standing. The analysis also noted that many of these automated accounts supported Azerbaijani officials and their narratives on social media, including posts by President Ilham Aliyev and his advisor Hikmet Hajiyev, emphasizing Azerbaijan’s commitment to transitioning to renewable energy.

Despite these assertions, environmental activists have expressed concerns over Azerbaijan’s plans to increase its annual gas production by 32% by 2033, contradicting the urgent global call to reduce fossil fuel dependency to mitigate Climate change. Furthermore, the bots have also been used to disseminate anti-Armenian sentiments amid Azerbaijan’s longstanding conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

This scenario highlights the ongoing challenges in combating digital misinformation and the complexities of hosting a climate conference in a nation heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The situation raises significant questions about the integrity of global environmental dialogues and the role of oil-rich nations in the fight against climate change.

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