{"slug": "openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake", "title": "OpenAI reveals shocking details of Russian and Iran influence ops using fake journalists", "summary": "OpenAI said on Thursday it shut down two influence operations originating in Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to create fake journalist personas and a covert \"think-tank\" pushing anti-Ukraine propaganda. The Iranian operation ran seven \"journalist\" profiles from Western countries and published or syndicated almost 100 articles across roughly a dozen online outlets between July 2025 and October 2026, while the Russian operation co-opted unwitting Latin American staff into a front called the Social Research Center, which OpenAI called \"the most complex attempt to run a front identity that we've disrupted over the past two and a half years.", "body_md": "## OpenAI reveals shocking details of Russian and Iran influence ops using fake journalists\n\nWashington DC - [OpenAI](https://www.tag24.com/en/tech/artificial-intelligence) **on Thursday said it shut down two influence operations – from** [Russia](https://www.tag24.com/en/topic/world/russia) **and** [Iran](https://www.tag24.com/en/topic/iran-war) **– that used ChatGPT to push fake journalist personas and run a \"think-tank\" to covertly peddle anti-Ukraine propaganda.**\n\nOpenAI's report is the latest illustration of how state actors can easily exploit widely available AI tools to peddle sophisticated propaganda against adversaries on a mass scale.\n\nThe American AI giant said it banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts that originated in Russia and Iran and were used to support \"false front\" entities for geopolitical and conflict-related messaging.\n\nThe Iranian operation involved seven \"journalist\" profiles, each purporting to be from Western countries including the US, that were used to plant long-form articles in media outlets around the world.\n\n[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces MAHA backlash over call to embrace AI for medical advice](en/news/politics/politicians/robert-f-kennedy-jr/robert-f-kennedy-jr-faces-maha-backlash-over-call-to-embrace-ai-for-medical-advice-3538278)\n\n\"We identified almost 100 articles published or syndicated under the operation's bylines across roughly a dozen online outlets around the world,\" OpenAI said.\n\n\"These were small to medium outlets, generally focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and events in the Middle East.\"\n\nThe earliest article identified by OpenAI was published in July 2025, and the latest in October 2026, with the frequency of reports increasing after the US-Iran war broke out earlier this year.\n\nThe operation also generated social media comments on topics related to the US-Iran war, it added.\n\nOne of the personas named Ervin B. Hoskins, whose bio claimed to be \"an American freelance writer,\" had social media accounts across tech platforms including [Elon Musk](https://www.tag24.com/en/entertainment/celebrities/elon-musk)'s X and Meta-owned Instagram.\n\nX's transparency information showed the account was connected via a \"West Asia android app\" and Instagram's transparency information showed the account was based in Iran, according to screenshots provided by OpenAI.\n\n**Both accounts appeared to be suspended.**\n\n### OpenAI calls it \"the most complex attempt\" yet\n\nThe Russian operation co-opted \"unwitting people\" in Latin America to run a \"think-tank\" – called the Social Research Center – used for covert activities aimed at undermining Ukraine's reputation in the region and to influence local politics, the company said.\n\n\"The available evidence indicates that the SRC's employees in Latin America were not aware that they were working for a Russian group,\" OpenAI said.\n\n**\"The SRC appears to have produced a majority of original content via its co-opted staff. This stands out as the most complex attempt to run a front identity that we've disrupted over the past two and a half years.\"**\n\nCover photo: Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Press", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake", "canonical_source": "https://www.tag24.com/en/tech/artificial-intelligence/openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake-journalists-3538732", "published_at": "2026-10-09 00:54:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-09 01:16:46.469325+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "generative-ai", "ai-safety", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["OpenAI", "ChatGPT", "Iran", "Russia", "Social Research Center", "Ervin B. Hoskins", "X", "Instagram"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/openai-reveals-shocking-details-of-russian-and-iran-influence-ops-using-fake.jsonld"}}