Our source confirmed this example, where three commenters

were Daily Mail staffers, and the fourth a system response.

We've been speaking recently over several meetings with an exback-office technical person who has given us some interesting insights as to operations under the editor,Among other things () he/she states, quite categorically, that a substantial number of the commentors onstories, especially those with no avatar or ID, are system responses, Mail staffers or paid contractors.The Project - suitably named- was set up in 2015 and has run since. Estimated costs are £22,000 a year for 2017/18, which is lost in their 'Media/Marketing' Budget. It is particularly used when comments are either minimal or critical of the story, to generate false support.More to come from this person, we think.All details have been passed to regulatorsbut we expect no action as key IPSO staff were placed in position by the recently retiredWill be interesting to note if this Project continues under Dacre's replacement this month, Geordie Grieg