OpenAI bans Russia- and Iran-linked ChatGPT clusters used for influence ops
OpenAI said Thursday it shut down account clusters tied to Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to push false-front geopolitical messaging. The company rated the Russian operation 5 out of 6 for impact and the Iranian one 4 out of 6 — rare high scores.
What OpenAI did: On Thursday OpenAI said it disrupted Russia- and Iran-linked clusters that used ChatGPT for false-front geopolitical messaging, France 24 (citing AFP) and CyberScoop reported. The company did not name a specific state agency for either campaign.
Iran — “Bogus Bylines”: OpenAI described seven fake Western journalist personas that published about 100 articles across roughly a dozen small and medium outlets on geopolitics and the Middle East. Activity rose after the U.S.–Iran war; the earliest work dated to July 2025 and the latest to October 2026, France 24 and CyberScoop reported. One example persona was Ervin B. Hoskins; X and Instagram transparency settings pointed to West Asia and Iran, and the accounts appeared suspended, France 24 said. OpenAI said the Iran activity was consistent with a commercial for-hire campaign.
Russia — “Dark Clark”: The Russian cluster used a fake Latin American think tank, the Social Research Center (SRC), and a Mia Clark persona for anti-Ukraine messaging and Argentina and Bolivia politics, CyberScoop and France 24 reported. Latin American staff appeared unwitting. OpenAI called it the most complex front identity it has disrupted in two and a half years.
Impact: OpenAI scored the Russia operation 5 out of 6 and the Iran operation 4 out of 6 — rare high-impact ratings, CyberScoop reported.