Price of a 'bot army' revealed across online platforms (www.cam.ac.uk)

The University of Cambridge has launched the Cambridge Online Trust and Safety Index (COTSI), which provides real-time data on the fluctuating costs of building "bot armies" across over 500 social media and commercial platforms globally. This index aims to shed light on the “online manipulation economy” by tracking the prices for SMS verifications needed to create fake accounts, revealing that the costs vary significantly by region. For instance, the average price in the US is just $0.26, while in Japan, it’s around $4.93. The data indicates a spike in prices for accounts used on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp leading up to elections, underscoring the increasing commercialization of online influence operations. This development is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights the intricate ties between bot technology and misinformation campaigns. By revealing the economics behind fake accounts, COTSI not only exposes the thriving underground market for inauthentic content but also informs regulatory efforts to combat online manipulation, such as suggested SIM card regulations. The potential for generative AI to enhance the sophistication of these bots makes understanding their operational costs and mechanisms critical for developing robust defenses against disinformation.