A network of fake Scottish X accounts linked to Iran has suddenly gone silent following an internet blackout imposed in the West Asian nation. The accounts, which claim to support Scottish independence, stopped posting last Thursday as widespread protests against the Islamic Republic's leadership flared. Industry publication UK Defence Journal, which has tracked the group for months, confirmed the silence.

Known personas like 'Fiona,' 'Jake,' and 'Lucy'—each with thousands of followers—had previously shared extreme disinformation. Posts included false claims that protesters seized Balmoral Estate and that army trucks rolled down Edinburgh's Royal Mile. These accounts often used VPNs to mask their true locations, appearing European in X's data.

This isn't the first time such activity has paused. A similar group disappeared after internet collapses during Israeli and US strikes in June 2025. Research from Clemson University and disinformation firm Cyabra has previously estimated that a significant percentage of pro-independence content originates from Iranian-backed bot networks, designed to sow division in UK politics.