How Much Does a Bot Army Actually Cost? Cambridge Study Reveals Market Rates
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have launched a new global index designed to track the real-time costs of online manipulation. Known as the Cambridge Online Trust and Safety Index (COTSI), this tool monitors the price of fake account verifications across more than 500 different platforms.
The data exposes a thriving black market where verifying fake profiles is surprisingly affordable in major nations. While securing a fake identity in Japan or Australia might cost upwards of three dollars due to strict SIM card regulations, the same service in the US, UK, or Russia often costs less than thirty cents.
According to the study, the barrier to entry for influencing public opinion is alarmingly low. For roughly ten dollars, bad actors can purchase approximately 90,000 fake views, 10,000 likes, or 200 artificial comments to boost a specific social media post.
The researchers also highlighted specific local pricing trends found within the index. For example, with a budget of just one hundred dollars, someone could purchase SMS verifications for nearly 1,400 fake accounts linked to Croatian phone numbers.
Demand for these services is not static and appears to be tied to real-world political events. The study found that prices for fake accounts on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram often spike by up to 15% in countries approaching national elections.
This underground economy relies heavily on “SIM farms” that mass-produce accounts for scammers and political operatives. By analyzing these fluctuations, the Cambridge team hopes to shed light on how digital influence campaigns are funded and executed globally.
We want to know if these low prices surprise you or if you suspect you encounter these bots daily, so please share your thoughts in the comments.
