OpenAI blocks Iranian group's ChatGPT accounts for targeting US election

OpenAI said it has detected and blocked an Iranian group that was using ChatGPT to generate content to influence the upcoming U.S. elections.

OpenAI said on Friday it had taken down accounts of an Iranian group for using its ChatGPT chatbot to generate content meant for influencing the U.S. presidential election and other issues.

The operation, identified as Storm-2035, used ChatGPT to generate content focused on topics such as commentary on the candidates on both sides in the U.S. elections, the conflict in Gaza and Israel's presence at the Olympic Games and then shared it via social media accounts and websites.

Investigation by the Microsoft-backed AI company showed that ChatGPT was used for generating long-form articles and shorter social media comments.

OpenAI said the operation did not appear to have achieved meaningful audience engagement.

(For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today’s Cache)

Majority of the identified social media posts received few or no likes, shares or comments and the company did not see indications of web articles being shared across social media.

The accounts have been banned from using OpenAI's services and the company continues to monitor activities for any further attempts to violate policies, it said.