OpenAI Bans ChatGPT Accounts Linked to Iranian Influence Campaign
OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, has taken action to ban multiple accounts associated with an Iranian influence campaign targeting the upcoming U.S. presidential election and other global issues. The campaign, identified as Storm-2035, utilized ChatGPT to generate long-form articles and social media content for platforms such as Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.
The covert Iranian operation attempted to sway U.S. voters by creating websites masquerading as legitimate political news outlets. The content produced covered a wide range of topics, including commentary on the U.S. presidential election from various political perspectives, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel’s participation in the Olympic Games, Venezuelan politics, and the rights of Latinx communities in the United States.
Despite these efforts, OpenAI’s investigation revealed that the campaign failed to gain significant traction. The majority of social media posts generated by Storm-2035 received minimal engagement, with few or no likes, shares, or comments.
This is not the first time AI-powered influence campaigns have been disrupted. In May, OpenAI and Meta collaborated to thwart a social media campaign that employed AI to disseminate pro-Israel messages on Instagram and Facebook.
As the U.S. presidential election approaches, concerns about potential interference attempts are growing. Recently, former President Donald Trump confirmed that his campaign had been targeted by hackers, with the attack linked to an Iranian phishing email. The FBI is currently investigating this incident, as well as alleged hacking attempts on the Biden-Harris campaign.
The discovery and disruption of the Storm-2035 operation highlight the ongoing challenges faced by tech companies and election officials in safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes in the digital age. As AI technologies continue to evolve, vigilance and proactive measures will be crucial in detecting and preventing future influence campaigns.
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