X Removes 42,000 AI Chatbot Accounts in Spam Combat

Image credit: Search Engine Journal

X, formerly Twitter, removed 42,000 accounts automating replies with AI chatbots in a recent sweep, as its product head live-tweeted the company’s real-time efforts to combat a surge in artificial intelligence-driven spam.

The global platform cited authenticity as a core value while detailing its swift mitigation strategies against economically motivated spammers seeking to grow audiences for paid promotional deals from AI companies.

Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, provided a public account of the company’s ongoing battle, noting that anti-spam actions are significantly faster than under the old Twitter, with major attacks now mitigated within six to 12 hours.

The company observed some spammers leveraging X’s own AI product, Grok, to generate spam replies, which the platform has since blocked, Bier reported.

One particularly persistent spam operator demonstrated advanced adaptability by pivoting their strategy 40 times in a six-month period, according to Bier.

The motivations behind the chatbot spam are primarily economic, focused on building larger follower bases that can then be monetized through deals with AI companies, Bier stated.

X’s transparency in exposing the scale and sophisticated tactics of these spammers marks a shift in how social media platforms communicate their integrity efforts.

The platform continues to prioritize the removal of inauthentic accounts to maintain user trust and ensure genuine interactions, a company spokesperson indicated.

Source: Search Engine Journal