OpenAI banned Russian ChatGPT accounts backing covert influence operation
OpenAI banned Russian-run ChatGPT accounts behind fake think tank IBI, which used AI-generated posts and a 'Sovereignty Index' to push pro-Russia narratives.
OpenAI banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts, likely operated from Russia via VPNs, that generated English-language social media comments for X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Telegram and Substack promoting the International Burke Institute (IBI). The Israel-branded IBI website, registered in February 2025, claimed ties to figures like Francis Fukuyama, but 34 of 36 sampled articles were copied or misattributed. Its 'Sovereignty Index' consistently ranked Russia favorably while criticizing France, Germany, the EU and the US; OpenAI rated the campaign at the lower end of Brookings Breakout Scale Category Three.
- Operators prompted ChatGPT in Russian and instructed it to hide linguistic traces of Russian origin
- Telegram channels like 'Lahme Ente' pushed German-language anti-Ukraine, anti-EU content; 10,000-20,000 followers each
- Reach was limited but the operation's elaborate construction distinguishes it from prior Russia-linked campaigns
- Vendors
- OpenAI
- Products
- ChatGPT
- Organizations
- International Burke Institute
- AI models
- ChatGPT
From the original article
5 min read at securityaffairs.com
OpenAI banned Russian ChatGPT accounts backing a fake think tank, IBI, that used AI posts and a fake “sovereignty” index to push pro‑Russia narratives. OpenAI says it has banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts that likely originated in Russia and were used to support a covert influence operation.
By @securityaffairs · securityaffairs.com
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.