OpenAI recently took action against ChatGPT accounts associated with a notorious Iranian group known as Storm-2035. These accounts were being used to generate and distribute content aimed at influencing the upcoming US elections and other sensitive topics like the Gaza-Israel conflict. The group had been active since 2020 and was creating both long-form articles and short social media comments in English and Spanish.
The content generated by the Iranian group covered a range of topics, including:
OpenAI discovered that Storm-2035 operated several websites, including EvenPolitics, Nio Thinker, Savannah Time, Teorator, and Westland Sun, where the content created with ChatGPT was posted. These websites not only featured content generated by the AI model but also plagiarized material from legitimate US publications. Interestingly, Storm-2035 utilized websites from both progressive and conservative media outlets to target a broader audience with diverse political leanings.
Although the group’s posts did not receive significant engagement, the attempt to interfere in critical events like the US elections is concerning. Microsoft had previously highlighted Iran’s involvement in influencing US elections, emphasizing a significant rise in foreign interference activities leading up to the upcoming election.
In a similar vein, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) uncovered Iranian-backed spear-phishing attacks targeting high-profile individuals in Israel and the US, particularly those associated with the US elections. These nefarious groups are continuously evolving their tactics to avoid detection, including masquerading as reputable publications like The New Yorker or Cosmopolitan.
Despite efforts by authorities and technology companies to combat such activities, these threat actors continue to pose a risk to the integrity of democratic processes. The battle against foreign influence and disinformation campaigns remains ongoing, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard against malicious actors seeking to disrupt crucial events like elections.
