Price of a 'bot army' revealed across hundreds of online platforms worldwide

A team at the University of Cambridge has launched the first global index tracking real-time prices for fake account verifications on over 500 online platforms worldwide. The index found that prices for fake accounts on direct messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp increased significantly during election periods, likely due to increased demand for local verifications. However, no such price fluctuations were observed on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where fake accounts can be registered in one country and used in another. The study highlights the shadow economy of online manipulation and aims to help dismantle the business model behind misinformation.