26 August 2026
OpenAI shuts Russian accounts running AI-powered misinformation campaign
First reported
CNBC and The Decoder ran this on , all on the same day.
- OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts originating in Russia that were generating social media posts to promote a fake think tank called the International Burke Institute and spread pro-Russia narratives.
- Operators used VPNs to access ChatGPT despite Russia being blocked, then instructed the AI to hide linguistic markers of Russian origin in generated posts across X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Substack and Telegram.
Reported by CNBC, The Decoder