Brief
OpenAI shuts down Russian and Iranian ChatGPT propaganda networks
The AI firm said the operations ran fake journalist profiles and a covert think‑tank to push disinformation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
OpenAI announced on Thursday that it had disabled two influence operations – one based in Russia and another in Iran – that used ChatGPT to disseminate false journalist personas and anti‑Ukraine propaganda.
The Iranian network operated seven profiles that pretended to be Western journalists and placed long‑form articles in roughly a dozen small to medium online outlets focused on international affairs. OpenAI said it identified almost 100 articles published under those bylines from July 2025 to October 2026, with a spike after the US‑Iran war began earlier this year.
The Russian effort co‑opted unwitting staff in Latin America to run a “Social Research Center” think‑tank that produced original content aimed at undermining Ukraine’s reputation. OpenAI noted that the Latin American contributors were unaware they were working for a Russian group.
Both operations also generated social‑media comments on the US‑Iran conflict. OpenAI provided screenshots showing one Iranian persona, Ervin B. Hoskins, linked to an Android app from West Asia and an Instagram account traced to Iran; both accounts have been suspended.
Key facts
- OpenAI disabled two influence operations that used ChatGPT for propaganda (france24.com)
- The Iranian network ran seven fake journalist profiles and placed nearly 100 articles (france24.com)
- The Russian network used a covert think‑tank called the Social Research Center in Latin America (france24.com)
- The earliest identified article was published in July 2025; the latest in October 2026 (france24.com)
- Both operations generated social‑media comments on the US‑Iran war (france24.com)
Sources
- [1] france24.com — originally reported as “OpenAI bans Russian, Iranian ChatGPT propaganda networks”
