Ask an Expert: Bot or Not? Understanding Automated Attacks and When They Matter
When brands face sudden waves of criticism or viral attention, it’s tempting to assume a bot network is behind it.
Overview
We all know what a "bot" is—or at least we think we do. When a brand faces sudden online criticism from disgruntled customers or when a logo redesign unexpectedly dominates the social media landscape—you may be thinking, we are being targeted by an adversarial bot campaign, but not so fast. What may appear to be an automated attack often turns out to be a more nuanced mix of human and automated behavior.
In this 30-minute Ask an Expert session, Graphika's Cristina López G. and Angie Waller unpack how to analyze online activity with precision—showing you how to distinguish automation from amplification, identify when a network warrants deeper investigation, and when it’s simply noise.
What You’ll Learn
- Beyond the Buzzword: Understand what truly defines bot behavior today and how automation has evolved.
- Recognizing Complex Influence Patterns: Explore how multiple factors—not just bots—can shape viral moments.
- Knowing When (and When Not) to Act: Gain insights on interpreting bot-like activity and deciding when to intervene.
Who Should Watch
- Trust & Safety professionals monitoring inauthentic behavior and emerging online threats
- Cybersecurity teams investigating coordinated network activity and influence campaigns
- Brand and Communications managers tracking narrative spread and mitigating reputational risks
- Threat Intelligence and Risk Analysts identifying early signals of manipulation and assessing potential impact
Originally Aired
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, this webinar is now available on-demand for you to explore at your convenience.
Cristina López G.
Principal Analyst
Cristina López G. was a principal analyst at Graphika, where she led our research into AI-harms and examined social media information operations and networks of online influence. Before her time at Graphika, Cristina managed Data & Society’s Disinformation Action Lab, which focused on networked responses to communications threats specific to the 2020 U.S. Census.
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The full recording includes complete analyst commentary, in-depth research findings, and the full Q&A session with our experts.
- Expert analyst commentary and insights
- In-depth research findings and analysis
- Full Q&A session with Graphika analysts
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