Dear {name} The online saying is true: bots can’t vote. That was one of the clearest lessons from the Scottish election. However loud the artificial noise became online, real people across Scotland made their own judgement at the ballot box. But that does not mean we should ignore what happened. French authorities have now identified activity linked to BlackCore, an Israeli firm, involving fake accounts targeting John Swinney, the SNP and the Scottish Government during the election. We only know that because the French Government went public. That raises an obvious question: what did the UK Government know, when did it know it, and why has Westminster had so little to say? During the campaign there were also clear signs of inauthentic activity elsewhere. Engagement on Anas Sarwar’s accounts appeared to jump from the low hundreds to thousands almost overnight, with strange, repetitive comments - including people referring to a “photo” when responding to a party political broadcast. That is not normal democratic debate, it is manufactured noise. Foreign interference, dark money and online misinformation are not side issues. They are direct threats to our democracy. It is not only the denial of democratic mandates, but undue foreign influence from multiple sources which me must contend with. Scotland has repeatedly seen high levels of misinformation online, particularly around constitutional politics. We should ask why. There are powerful interests who do not want Scotland to have the full powers of a normal independent country, nor full control over our resources, energy and future. Democracy must belong to voters, not bots, billionaires or shadowy influence operations. Scotland deserves transparency, protection and the power to act in our own interests. It will take each of us making the case to ensure Independence is delivered, delivered democratically and by the people who have chosen to live hire. Yours for Scotland, 
Martyn Day SNP Candidate for Falkirk East and Linlithgow PS - if you are enjoying these newsletters please pass them on to a friend or two. | 
