tech
OpenAI bans Russian ChatGPT accounts used to spread pro-Kremlin content including a think tank with researchers who say they were falsely affiliated
OpenAI banned a “cluster” of ChatGPT accounts that it claims were part of a pro-Russia operation aimed at bashing Western countries and promoting a think tank with misattributed academic research.
TL;DR
- OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts linked to a pro-Russia influence operation.
- The operation used VPNs to bypass restrictions on Russian users.
- The banned accounts promoted the International Burke Institute (IBI), described by OpenAI as the core of a Russian influence operation.
- The IBI website listed notable figures like Noam Chomsky and Francis Fukuyama, though some listed researchers stated they were falsely affiliated.
- The IBI website featured a 'sovereignty index' favoring Russia and misattributed academic research, with some articles appearing to be translated from Slavic languages.
- OpenAI stated that the banned users created social posts promoting the institute on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Substack, and Telegram.
- Despite low engagement on individual accounts, Telegram channels associated with the operation gained 10,000-20,000 followers.
- This operation follows previous disruptions by OpenAI of similar Russia-linked campaigns using AI for political content and cybercrime.