Research Reveals the Role of ‘Bots’ in Propagating Earthquake Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracies are covert actions carried out by a small group of influential individuals with personal gain as the motive, often at the expense of the greater good. While not a recent development, the advent of technologies such as social media has facilitated their rapid and widespread dissemination.

In a recently published study from the renowned International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, researchers delved into the role of internet bots, software programs that automate tasks on the web, in the proliferation of conspiracy theories surrounding earthquakes on social media. By exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and human behavior, this study sheds light on the impact of bots and their potential for malicious activities.

“In 2020, bot activity accounted for 40.8 percent of internet traffic, with a significant majority engaged in nefarious activities,” emphasizes Dmitry Erokhin, co-author of the study. “Our research demonstrates the significant contribution of bots in spreading conspiracy theories related to earthquakes on social media platforms.”

Thanks to the widely accepted theory of plate tectonics, we now understand that earthquakes occur due to the collision and sudden rupture of tectonic plates along faults. However, even experts struggle to predict the timing and extent of these seismic events. In the face of these uncertainties, conspiracy theories offer simplistic explanations.

The study analyzed Twitter engagement following the November 2022 West Java earthquake, a magnitude 5.6 tremor that resulted in over 300 casualties near Cianjur, Indonesia.

Conspiracy theories surrounding earthquakes encompass various notions:

• Links between earthquakes and military activities, often involving the concept of a “super-weapon” or illicit nuclear tests.
• Claims that earthquakes result from scientific experiments involving electromagnetic waves or particle colliders.
• Attributing earthquakes to consequences of fracking, oil extraction, or mining operations.
• Perceiving earthquakes as divine retribution, one of the oldest conspiracy theories.
• Propagating the notion that earthquakes serve the hidden agenda of secret societies or powerful individuals.
• And of course, theories involving extraterrestrial involvement!

The study’s findings reveal that conspiracy theories centered around military activities and divine intervention dominate discussions on Twitter. Institutions such as HAARP, an antenna array in Alaska used to study electromagnetic waves, and CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, are often cited as potential sources, despite a lack of scientific evidence. Ascribing earthquakes to human or divine agency may provide individuals with a rational explanation for seemingly random disasters, helping them cope with psychological trauma.

Conspiracy theories tend to originate on platforms like Reddit but quickly gain traction on Twitter. Through algorithmic analysis of tweet propagation, the study authors observed that bot-like accounts, while less prevalent than human-operated accounts, significantly contribute to the dissemination of conspiracies by swiftly tweeting and sharing content. These bots also exhibit behavior classified as “toxic” by the researchers, aiming to generate controversy and interactions.

“Our research indicates that bot-like accounts, despite constituting a minority compared to human-like accounts, actively spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about earthquakes on Twitter. Furthermore, the link between bot scores and toxicity levels underscores the potential negative impact of bot-like accounts in promoting disruptive behaviors,” remarks Nadejda Komendantova, one of the study’s authors.

Erokhin concludes, “By comprehending the dynamics of information propagation, policymakers and social media platforms can devise effective strategies to address this issue. Greater efforts are needed to counteract the dissemination of conspiracies and prevent damage to public understanding of science and evidence-based decision-making.”

The study titled “The role of bots in spreading conspiracies: Case study of discourse about earthquakes on Twitter” was published in the 2023 edition of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Interview-based material was provided by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.