Technology
• Analysis
OpenAI Bans ChatGPT Propaganda Networks From Russia and Iran
OpenAI said on Thursday that it banned ChatGPT accounts behind two influence operations, one Russian and one Iranian, that spread anti-Ukraine propaganda through fake journalist personas and a purported think tank.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 8, 2026
• 2 Min Read
OpenAI said on Thursday that it banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts originating in Russia and Iran that supported "false front" entities used for geopolitical and conflict-related messaging. The company shut down two influence operations, one Russian and one Iranian, that used ChatGPT to push fake journalist personas and run a "think-tank" to covertly peddle anti-Ukraine propaganda.
Fake journalists placing articles worldwide
The Iranian operation used seven profiles posing as Western journalists, including from the United States, to place articles in media outlets worldwide. OpenAI identified almost 100 articles published or syndicated under the operation's bylines across roughly a dozen online outlets.
- •The outlets were small to medium, focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and events in the Middle East.
- •The earliest article identified was published in July 2025 and the latest in October 2026.
- •Publishing frequency increased after the US-Iran war broke out earlier this year.
- •The operation also generated social media comments on topics related to the US-Iran war.
The Ervin B. Hoskins persona
One of the personas, named Ervin B. Hoskins, had a bio claiming to be "an American freelance writer" and maintained accounts on X and Instagram. X transparency data showed the Hoskins account connected via a West Asia android app, while Instagram's transparency information showed the account was based in Iran; both accounts appeared suspended.
A think tank run by unwitting staff
The Russian operation co-opted "unwitting people" in Latin America to run a think tank called the Social Research Center (SRC). The SRC's covert activities aimed at undermining Ukraine's reputation in the region and influencing local politics.
OpenAI said the available evidence indicates that the SRC's employees in Latin America were not aware that they were working for a Russian group.
The most complex attempt to run a front identity that we've disrupted over the past two and a half years
That is how OpenAI described the Social Research Center, which it assessed as the most complex front-identity attempt it had disrupted in two and a half years. The accounts in both clusters have been banned, and the platform accounts tied to the Hoskins persona appeared suspended.
