OpenAI Shuts Down Accounts Linked to Alleged Malicious Activities from China and North Korea

OpenAI has recently deactivated several user accounts from China and North Korea over suspicions of using artificial intelligence (AI) technology for illicit purposes, including surveillance and public opinion manipulation, according to a report published on Friday by Reuters.

The report highlighted concerns that authoritarian regimes could exploit AI to target both the United States and their own citizens. OpenAI revealed that it utilized its own AI tools to detect such operations. However, the company did not disclose specific details regarding the number of accounts banned or the exact timeline of the enforcement actions.

In one instance, some users employed ChatGPT to generate anti-U.S. news articles in Spanish, which were later published under the name of a Chinese company in certain mainstream Latin American media outlets.

In another case, individuals suspected of having links to North Korea allegedly used ChatGPT to create fake résumés and online profiles for bogus job applicants, aiming to fraudulently secure positions at Western companies.

Additionally, OpenAI discovered that accounts associated with a Cambodia-based financial fraud ring had been using ChatGPT to produce translations and comments for social media and messaging platforms, further highlighting the platform’s misuse in various deceptive schemes.

The U.S. government has long accused China of leveraging AI for citizen surveillance, spreading disinformation, and undermining the security of the United States and its allies.

ChatGPT remains the world’s most popular AI chatbot, with over 400 million weekly active users. OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise $40 billion in new investments, which could push its market valuation to $300 billion, setting a new record for a privately held company.