Since the beginning of 2022, SSU cyber specialists have neutralized 35 bot farms. The head of the SSU Cyber ​​Security Department Ilya Vityuk briefed the public about this during the national telethon.

‘Since the start of the year, we have shut down 35 bot farms. That is, the SSU Cyber Security Department systematically counteracts to russia’s information aggression, preventing destabilization of social and political situation in our country,’ he emphasized.

Over last few days, the SSU uncovered bot farms in Kyiv oblast, Odesa oblast, and in the capital. These entities, among other things, discredited Ukrainian defenders, spread panic and spun russian narratives.

According to Ilya Vityuk, bot farms are usually created as a fraudulent tool for upscaling informational influence on certain audiences.

However, punishment for this crime should be toughened.

Presently, setting up a bot farm is classified as unauthorized interference in the work of electronic computing networks (Article 361 of the CCU) and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for the term from 2 to 6 years maximum.

At the same time, many bot farms work for russian special services. Therefore, such actions should be qualified as aiding the aggressor state or treason, which entails a higher level of liability.

‘Our experts are developing relevant initiatives and amendments to the legislation. We believe that it is necessary to separate qualification of actions - creation and operation of bot and troll farms - into a separate offence in view of its public danger, especially in wartime,’ Chief of the SSU Cyber Security Department stated.

He reminded that the cyber war for Ukraine started back in 2014, and that russia resorts to various tools of influence.

For example, the SSU recently exposed a million-strong bot farm, which was organized by a political technologist and russian citizen, who moved to Ukraine. The farm was used not only by certain political forces in Ukraine, but also by russian special services.