US sanctions Russian group over AI-generated election disinformation

The United States has issued sanctions to organizations in Russia and Iran for trying to interfere with the presidential elections of 2024. The The Treasury Department said Tuesday that the groups tried to “stoke socio-political tensions” and influence the voters.

One group, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Experience, has ties to Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), and has built a server to host its AI tools “to avoid foreign web hosting services blocking its activity”. The organization then used these tools to “quickly create disinformation” that spread across dozens of fake news outlets online, while also providing US-based companies with money to maintain its AI server and operate a network of “at least 100 websites” used in his campaign.

In addition, the Russian organization manipulated a video to “produce baseless accusations regarding a 2024 vice-presidential candidate.” In October, the United States blamed Russia of creating a video that tried to smear Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz.

The Treasury Department also sanctioned the Cognitive Design Production Center, an affiliate of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for planning to interfere with elections “since at least 2023.” In the weeks before the election, the United States The Department of Justice charged the Iranian nationals accused of leading a cyberattack against the campaign of President-elect Donald Trump, while OpenAI has claimed to have banned ChatGPT accounts linked to an Iranian influence operation.

“The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and are seeking to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” said Bradley Smith, the Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Intelligence. Financial, in the press release.