OpenAI has just detected and blocked accounts linked to an Iranian influence operation. It indicated that these accounts use ChatGPT as a means for generating topics on subjects such as the US presidential campaign and international issues. This “Iranian influence operation” had been connected to a group called Storm-2035. The said group is famous in the world for spreading misinformation.
Storm-2035 has participated in running an influence operation targeting elections by creating “fake news.” Sharing occurred on social media and a phony website, as reported by OpenAI. The group created content regarding U.S. presidential candidates, including Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Israel’s invasion of Gaza, and discussions about the Latinx community’s rights.
Furthermore, Storm-2035 produced content on Venezuelan politics and Scottish independence. Furthermore, this group created content on fashion and beauty-related topics. According to Axios, it is for the sake of seeming more real and building up a following. Anyway, despite such efforts, the group’s attempts didn’t gain ground.
According to OpenAI, their posts from these accounts received less engagement, where most had no likes, shares, or comments. In the same light, articles on the web from these accounts were not very far shared. This lack of engagement suggests that the attempt was largely unsuccessful.
It reiterated OpenAI’s commitment to fighting foreign influence operations. It’s taking such efforts seriously, even if they don’t make a huge impact. OpenAI continues protecting the integrity of its services.
