Source: Fortune
Summary
OpenAI banned a group of ChatGPT users it claims were part of a pro-Russia operation promoting the International Burke Institute, a think tank it says is linked to Russian influence efforts. The users used VPNs to bypass restrictions and created social media posts supporting the institute, which misattributed academic research. OpenAI said the institute’s website, registered in 2025, included articles with false authorship and promoted a “sovereignty index” favoring Russia. The Burke Institute denied being a Russian-linked entity. OpenAI also cited previous disruptions of Russian-linked AI campaigns, including one targeting German elections.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
OpenAI banned users it says were part of a Russian-linked operation.
The Burke Institute was accused of misusing academic names.
The institute denied being connected to Russia.
The story reconfirms how AI is used for influence campaigns.
Author: Evan Null
OpenAI’s Actions
OpenAI took action against a group of ChatGPT users it claims were part of a Russian influence campaign. The users were accused of promoting the International Burke Institute, a think tank that OpenAI says is linked to Russian interests. The institute, based in Israel, was accused of misattributing academic research and spreading content favorable to Russia. OpenAI said the users used VPNs to bypass restrictions and created social media posts to promote the institute. The company also cited previous disruptions of similar campaigns, including one targeting German elections.
Accusations Against the Burke Institute
The International Burke Institute was accused of misusing the names of real researchers and publishing articles with false authorship. OpenAI found that 34 out of 36 articles on the institute’s website were real academic pieces misattributed to other authors. Some of the listed contributors, including Noam Chomsky and Francis Fukuyama, were unaware their names were being used. The institute also published a “sovereignty index” that favored Russia and included articles translated from Slavic languages. OpenAI said the institute was the core of a Russian influence operation.
Responses and Denials
The Burke Institute denied being a Russian-linked entity and said that third-party use of its publications did not imply cooperation. It stated that the institute was legitimate and not involved in any disinformation efforts. However, the institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune. Some academics listed on the institute’s website, like Susan Ariel Aaronson, denied any association with the organization. OpenAI said the institute was represented by individuals in Israel who participated in interviews and conferences.
AI and Disinformation
OpenAI’s findings highlight how AI is being used to support disinformation campaigns. The banned ChatGPT users created social media posts promoting the Burke Institute, some from fake accounts. While the official accounts had low subscriber numbers, the institute’s Telegram channels had between 10,000 and 20,000 followers. OpenAI also cited a previous Russian-linked campaign that used ChatGPT to generate German-language political content before the 2025 German election. The company has been actively working to disrupt such efforts, citing the growing use of AI in influence operations.
Broader Implications
The case raises concerns about the misuse of AI for political and ideological purposes. OpenAI’s actions show the growing role of tech companies in combating disinformation. However, the lack of federal regulation in the U.S. leaves gaps in oversight. Experts like Susan Ariel Aaronson have called for stronger governance to prevent such misuse. The situation also highlights the challenges of verifying the authenticity of online content, especially when real researchers are misused without their consent. As AI becomes more prevalent, the risk of its misuse for influence campaigns continues to grow.
