OpenAI has blocked a group of ChatGPT accounts originating from Russia, which were being used to support a covert online influence campaign aimed at spreading misinformation.
The company identified the issue after investigating AI-generated social media posts, uncovering a broader influence operation.
The campaign involved a website featuring copied and misattributed academic work, a “sovereignty” index that portrayed Russia in a positive light, and efforts to conceal the operators’ Russian origins.
This is part of a pattern of pro-Russia actors leveraging AI to disseminate false information. Although OpenAI does not permit access to its models in Russia, the use of VPNs was employed to mask locations.
Earlier, OpenAI had disabled ChatGPT accounts linked to Rybar, a pro-Russia media organization reportedly partially coordinated by the Russian presidential administration, funded by Russian state corporation Rostec, and collaborating with Russian intelligence agencies.
Source (CNBC)
