OpenAI Bans China-Linked ChatGPT Accounts in US Influence Campaign
OpenAI banned two clusters of ChatGPT accounts likely operated from China, used for covert influence campaigns targeting U.S. debates on data center energy costs and tariffs. The "Data Center Bandwagon" campaign generated AI-made social media posts blaming AI data centers for rising electricity bills, while the "Tech and Tariffs" cluster produced anti-tariff content avoiding criticism of Xi Jinping. The operators, likely a private Chinese tech firm working for provincial government clients, used VPNs to bypass restrictions. Most posts gained little engagement.
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OpenAI Bans China-Linked ChatGPT Accounts Used in Covert Influence Campaigns Targeting US Energy and Tariff Debates
OpenAI announced it has banned two clusters of ChatGPT accounts it believes are operated from China, which were used for covert influence campaigns targeting U.S. tech and policy debates. One campaign, called 'Data Center Bandwagon,' produced social media comments and comic strips blaming AI data centers for rising household electricity bills, drawing on real disputes over PJM Interconnection's capacity auction prices. The second cluster, 'Tech and Tariffs,' generated anti-tariff cartoons depicting President Trump but not Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and was linked to fake X accounts spreading false claims about ChatGPT user data theft. OpenAI assessed the operators were likely a social media team at a private Chinese tech company working for provincial-level government clients. The activity generated virtually no authentic engagement and was rated Category One on the Breakout Scale, meaning it stayed on one platform without reaching genuine audiences. OpenAI compared the campaigns to the 2022 Spamouflage operation and noted they followed China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations elevating AI as a strategic industry.
Latest from Tom's HardwareOpenAI Bans China-Linked ChatGPT Accounts Used in Covert Influence Campaigns on US Energy and Tariff Debates
OpenAI has banned two clusters of ChatGPT accounts it believes are operated from China, used for covert influence campaigns targeting U.S. tech and policy debates. One cluster, 'Data Center Bandwagon,' produced AI-generated comic strips and social media comments blaming AI data centers for rising household electricity bills, referencing real disputes over PJM Interconnection's capacity auction prices. The second cluster, 'Tech and Tariffs,' generated anti-tariff cartoons depicting President Trump but not Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and was linked to fake X accounts spreading false claims of ChatGPT user data theft. OpenAI assessed the operators were likely a social media team at a private Chinese tech company working for provincial-level government clients. The activity generated virtually no authentic engagement and was rated Category One on the Breakout Scale. The campaigns followed China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations elevating AI as a strategic industry.
Latest from Tom's HardwareOpenAI Bans China-Linked ChatGPT Accounts Used in Covert Influence Campaign Targeting US Data Center Energy Costs
OpenAI announced it has banned two clusters of ChatGPT accounts it believes are operating from China, which were used for covert influence campaigns targeting U.S. tech and policy debates. One campaign, called 'Data Center Bandwagon,' produced AI-generated social media comments and comic strips blaming AI data centers for rising household electricity bills, amplifying backlash over U.S. data center energy costs. The operators prompted ChatGPT in Simplified Chinese via VPNs and posed on X as Americans from various backgrounds. A second cluster, 'Tech and Tariffs,' generated anti-tariff cartoons depicting President Trump but not Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and was linked to fake X accounts spreading false claims about stolen ChatGPT user data. OpenAI assessed the operators were likely a social media team at a private Chinese tech company working for provincial-level government clients. The activity generated virtually no authentic engagement.
Latest from Tom's HardwareOpenAI Reveals China-Linked Influence Campaign Using ChatGPT
OpenAI disclosed that it banned a cluster of China-linked accounts that used ChatGPT to generate social media content opposing U.S. AI data centers and President Trump's tariffs. The accounts, likely operated by a private Chinese tech firm working for provincial government clients, used VPNs to access OpenAI's services, which are barred in China. A second cluster generated content criticizing U.S. tariffs while avoiding criticism of Xi Jinping. OpenAI could not establish the institutional affiliation of the second cluster but noted it was connected to inauthentic accounts that falsely claimed ChatGPT user data had been compromised. The company stated that most posts generated little engagement but warned the campaigns reveal the intentions of influence operators from China. China's embassy in the U.S. denied the allegations. Separately, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told staff he expects the startup to go public within the next year.
All Articles on Seeking AlphaOpenAI says suspected China-linked influence operation targeted US data center debate
OpenAI reported that it banned likely China-based users who used ChatGPT to fuel a suspected influence operation aimed at undermining support for US data centers. The operation, dubbed the 'Data Center Bandwagon Campaign,' sought to exploit and amplify public concerns about energy prices and local impacts of data center development. OpenAI's principal investigator Ben Nimmo described it as a classic foreign influence operation using fake accounts posing as Americans. The campaign was small-scale and short-lived, with most posts gaining little engagement. The users were likely part of a social media team at a private Chinese technology company working for provincial-level government clients. The report adds context to the ongoing US debate over data center construction, which OpenAI and competitors view as critical for AI leadership.
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