# OpenAI Disrupts AI-Enabled False Front Operations

> OpenAI bans two influence operations using AI to create fake journalist personas and spread conflict-related content.
- Title: OpenAI Disrupts AI-Enabled False Front Operations · OpenAI
- Summary: OpenAI bans two influence operations using AI to create fake journalist personas and spread conflict-related content. OpenAI disrupted Russian and Iranian…
- Keywords: openai, influence operations, false front, journalist personas, geopolitical messaging, social media, russia, iran, chatgpt, technology, Disrupts, AI-Enabled
- Source: OpenAI — https://openai.com/index/disrupting-ai-enabled-false-front-operations
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: openai, ai, influence operations, false front, journalist personas, geopolitical messaging, social media, russia, iran, chatgpt, technology
## OpenAI Disrupts AI-Enabled False Front Operations
OpenAI banned two influence operations, one from Russia and one from Iran, that used AI to create fake journalist personas and spread geopolitical messaging.
## Iranian Operation: Seven Journalist Personas
Iranian actors created seven fake journalist personas to pitch long-form articles on US-Iran conflict to small and medium online outlets globally.
## Russian Operation: Latin America Think Tank
Russian actors co-opted individuals in Latin America to run a fake 'think tank' called the Social Research Center (SRC) to spread disinformation.
## Operation 'Dark Clark' Details
Russian operators used ChatGPT to draft internal reports, create fake emails, and generate audio scripts targeting Latin American countries.
## Fake Emails in Peru and Ecuador
Operators created fake emails purporting to come from Peruvian and Ecuadorian institutions to trick schools into holding events promoting Ukrainian nationalism.
## TikTok Fakes Spreading
TikTok posts with fabricated audio attributed to Ukraine’s consul in Ecuador and fake letters about Panama’s financial sector were shared by operation-generated accounts.
## Social Media Comments Generated
Operators generated batches of social media comments in English and Persian on US-Iran conflict topics, often within minutes of each other.
## Iranian Operation's Impact
The Iranian operation's articles reached Category 4 on the IO Breakout Scale, while the Russian operation reached Category 5, the highest category OpenAI has disrupted.
## Operation 'Bogus Bylines'
Iranian actors used seven fake journalist personas to pitch long-form articles on US-Iran conflict to online outlets globally.
## Fake Social Media Accounts
Iranian accounts showed transparency settings indicating locations in Iran, despite claiming to be Western journalists.
## Social Media Engagement
The Iranian operation's social media comments generated low engagement, with replies making up a minority of total comments on posts.
## Internal Reporting
Both operations used ChatGPT to draft internal reports detailing their activities, including fake stories and disinformation campaigns.
## Impact on Media Outlets
The Iranian operation's articles were published by outlets with substantial followings, including one with nearly 2 million Facebook followers.
## Operation 'Dark Clark' Impact
The Russian operation's fake stories triggered fact checks and official denials in Peru and Ecuador, leading to public comment from politicians.
## False Front Operations
Both operations used AI to create false fronts for spreading geopolitical messaging, with the Iranian operation reaching Category 4 and the Russian operation Category 5 on the IO Breakout Scale.
## What Happens Next
OpenAI aims to make further research and disruption easier while making continuing the operations harder through responsible disclosure.
## Key takeaway

OpenAI disrupted Russian and Iranian operations that used AI to generate false fronts for spreading geopolitical messaging.