OpenAI uncovers Russian and Iranian influence ops that planted fake stories in real news outlets
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OpenAI has identified and banned two influence operations conducted by Russian and Iranian actors who planted fabricated stories into legitimate news outlets. Unlike previous campaigns that relied on social media, these operations utilized fake identities to insert disinformation directly into real media platforms. The Russian campaign, dubbed "Dark Clark," targeted Latin America to discredit Ukraine and destabilize local politics in countries like Ecuador and Peru. This operation achieved a high severity rating of category 5 because it successfully provoked reactions from politicians, marking the first such case in over two years. Meanwhile, the Iranian operation, known as "Bogus Bylines," employed seven fake journalists to publish nearly 100 articles regarding the US-Iran conflict across global online outlets. Although these actors also generated social media comments, those efforts gained minimal traction compared to the embedded news content. Both groups primarily used artificial intelligence for internal reporting and adapting propaganda materials to various languages. OpenAI's investigation highlights a shift toward more sophisticated methods of influencing public discourse through trusted media channels rather than direct social media engagement.
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