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OpenAI Busted Covert Russian and Iranian AI Influence Operations
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CNBC TV18•09-10-2026, 07:30
OpenAI Busted Covert Russian and Iranian AI Influence Operations
- •OpenAI shut down two covert influence operations from Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to generate propaganda.
- •The Iranian operation created fake journalist profiles to plant anti-Western and conflict-related articles across international media outlets.
- •The Russian operation used unwitting people in Latin America to run a fake think tank aimed at undermining Ukraine's reputation.
- •OpenAI banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts associated with these false front entities used for geopolitical messaging.
Key Questions Answered
OpenAI reported shutting down two separate influence operations from Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to push fake journalist personas, create a front think-tank, and spread anti-Ukraine and conflict-related propaganda.
The Iranian operation utilized seven fake journalist profiles claiming to be from Western countries to plant nearly 100 long-form articles across roughly a dozen international online outlets and generate social media comments.
The Russian operation co-opted unwitting people in Latin America to run a front think-tank called the Social Research Center to covertly undermine Ukraine's reputation and influence local politics.
