Dutch researchers have found that coordinated accounts spreading disinformation were operating in France, Germany and Italy before the recent European parliamentary elections, but that there were no organised networks in the Netherlands itself.

The Trollrensics researchers analysed disinformation on social media platform X in the four countries and concluded many of the accounts were “cranked up” heading up to the vote, the Guardian reported on Friday.

“The impact of these accounts is increasing at an alarming rate,” the consultancy told the paper. “We can conclude with absolute certainty that a large coordinated network of accounts was influencing the EU elections in Germany, France and Italy.”

Trollrensics studied 2.3 million posts from 468,000 accounts in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands and identified 50,000 as accounts that spread disinformation.

Dutch News has contacted Trollrensics to ask for more information.