China-Linked Influence Campaign Used ChatGPT to Target U.S. Data Center Debate

OpenAI reported that a **ChatGPT account linked to Chinese law enforcement** used the model to review and edit internal write-ups on so-called **“cyber special operations,”** which OpenAI assessed as activity consistent with **covert influence operations and transnational repression** aimed at harassing and silencing critics of the Chinese Communist Party. The uploaded materials described a sustained, resource-intensive campaign involving **hundreds of staff**, **thousands of fake social-media accounts**, mass content generation, and tactics such as flooding platforms with fraudulent complaints against dissidents, forging documents, and in some cases **impersonating U.S. officials** to intimidate targets. OpenAI said the activity was tied to a single account, which it **banned**. OpenAI also described an attempted **smear/propaganda operation targeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi**, where the actor prompted ChatGPT for plans to amplify negative commentary on social media and to draft messages from fake accounts to pressure other Japanese politicians; when the model refused, the actor’s later prompts suggested the operation proceeded using other AI models. Separately, OpenAI attributed another cluster of accounts likely originating from mainland China that used ChatGPT to seek information on **U.S. persons, online forums, and federal building locations**, and to draft emails posing as a Hong Kong-based firm (*Nimbus Hub Consulting*), with OpenAI noting indicators such as VPN usage and prompts written in **Simplified Chinese**.

Feb 25, 2026

China-Linked Influence Operation Placed AI-Written Anti-U.S. Content in Latin American Media

OpenAI reported a likely China-origin covert influence operation, dubbed **“Sponsored Discontent,”** that used ChatGPT to generate short English-language comments and long-form Spanish-language articles critical of the United States. The activity reportedly followed mainland China business-hour patterns, used Chinese-language prompts, and in some cases was tied through article bylines to **Jilin Yousen Culture Communication Co., Ltd.** The operation also produced social media posts attacking Chinese dissident **Cai Xia**, behavior OpenAI said was partly consistent with **Spamouflage** tactics. The campaign’s most significant outcome was the successful placement of translated and expanded anti-U.S. narratives from publicly available Chinese-language sources into mainstream Latin American news outlets, particularly in **Peru**, and also in **Mexico** and **Ecuador**, at times apparently as sponsored content. OpenAI assessed the activity as a **Breakout Scale Category 4** influence operation because it penetrated widely read media sites rather than remaining confined to social platforms.

Feb 14, 2026

OpenAI Bans Suspected Chinese Accounts Using ChatGPT for Surveillance and Cyber Operations

OpenAI has taken action to ban several ChatGPT accounts believed to be linked to Chinese government entities and cybercriminal groups attempting to leverage AI for surveillance and cyber operations. According to OpenAI’s latest threat report, these accounts were primarily using ChatGPT to enhance existing cyber capabilities rather than inventing entirely new attack methods. The banned users often requested assistance from ChatGPT in designing tools for large-scale monitoring and analysis, such as social media listening platforms capable of scanning major networks like X, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, and YouTube for content deemed extremist or politically sensitive. In one notable case, a user suspected of operating from China via VPN asked ChatGPT to help create promotional materials and project plans for a surveillance tool, allegedly for a government client, though OpenAI could not confirm if the tool was ultimately deployed. Other banned accounts sought to use ChatGPT to identify funding sources for social media accounts critical of the Chinese government and to uncover petition organizers in Mongolia, but the AI only provided publicly available information and did not reveal sensitive data. OpenAI’s report highlights that these activities are indicative of how authoritarian regimes might seek to abuse AI capabilities in the future, even if current attempts remain limited in scope. The threat report also notes that most adversarial AI use cases involve automating and scaling traditional hacking tasks, such as malware development, command-and-control infrastructure, spearphishing, and reconnaissance, rather than creating novel attack vectors. The accounts in question displayed characteristics consistent with Chinese intelligence operations, including the use of the Chinese language and targeting sectors like Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, U.S. academia, think tanks, and organizations critical of the Chinese government. Technical overlaps were observed between these accounts and a known Chinese cyber espionage group, suggesting a coordinated effort. OpenAI’s intelligence team, including principal investigator Ben Nimmo, emphasized that while the AI models were not directly used to conduct surveillance, the planning and documentation support provided by ChatGPT could facilitate future operations. The company’s proactive monitoring and banning of these accounts underscore the growing concern over the misuse of generative AI by state actors and cybercriminals. OpenAI’s findings provide valuable insights into the evolving tactics of threat actors who are increasingly integrating AI into their existing cyber workflows. The report also raises questions about the potential for more sophisticated abuses of AI as the technology matures. OpenAI’s actions reflect a broader industry trend of AI providers taking steps to detect and disrupt malicious use of their platforms. The company continues to monitor for similar activities and collaborates with other stakeholders to mitigate risks associated with adversarial AI. These developments highlight the importance of vigilance and cross-sector cooperation in addressing the security challenges posed by generative AI technologies.

Oct 7, 2025

China-Linked Influence Campaign Used ChatGPT to Target U.S. Data Center Debate

How this story unfolded

OpenAI publishes report on two China-linked influence operations

Mandiant reports DRAGONBRIDGE targeted rare earths firms

ASPI reports CCP-backed campaign targeting Lynas and rare-earth diversification

Related entities

Affected products

Sources

See the full picture, correlated to your attack surface.

China-Linked Influence Campaign Used ChatGPT to Target U.S. Data Center Debate

How this story unfolded

OpenAI publishes report on two China-linked influence operations

Mandiant reports DRAGONBRIDGE targeted rare earths firms

ASPI reports CCP-backed campaign targeting Lynas and rare-earth diversification

Related entities

Affected products

Sources

See the full picture, correlated to your attack surface.

China-Linked Influence Campaign Used ChatGPT to Target U.S. Data Center Debate

How this story unfolded

OpenAI publishes report on two China-linked influence operations

Mandiant reports DRAGONBRIDGE targeted rare earths firms

ASPI reports CCP-backed campaign targeting Lynas and rare-earth diversification

Related entities

Affected products

Sources

See the full picture, correlated to your attack surface.

Related stories

OpenAI Report Links ChatGPT Abuse to Chinese Law Enforcement Harassment and Smear Operations

China-Linked Influence Operation Placed AI-Written Anti-U.S. Content in Latin American Media

OpenAI Bans Suspected Chinese Accounts Using ChatGPT for Surveillance and Cyber Operations

China-Linked Influence Campaign Used ChatGPT to Target U.S. Data Center Debate

How this story unfolded

OpenAI publishes report on two China-linked influence operations

Mandiant reports DRAGONBRIDGE targeted rare earths firms

ASPI reports CCP-backed campaign targeting Lynas and rare-earth diversification

Related entities

Affected products

Sources

See the full picture, correlated to your attack surface.

Related stories

OpenAI Report Links ChatGPT Abuse to Chinese Law Enforcement Harassment and Smear Operations

China-Linked Influence Operation Placed AI-Written Anti-U.S. Content in Latin American Media

OpenAI Bans Suspected Chinese Accounts Using ChatGPT for Surveillance and Cyber Operations