Russian-linked AI chatbots spreading disinformation globally
According to scientists' findings, Russia utilizes Western chatbots in its global disinformation campaigns.
A study by the organization NewsGuard revealed that more than one-third of the responses from AI communication assistants, such as ChatGPT, contained pro-Russian false news. Researchers attribute this to the Moscow-based network "Prawda," which spreads pro-Kremlin propaganda worldwide.
"Massive amounts of Russian propaganda — 3,600,000 articles in 2024 — are now incorporated in the outputs of Western AI systems, infecting their responses with false claims and propaganda," write NewsGuard researchers McKenzie Sadeghi and Isis Blachez in their report.
As part of the study, NewsGuard analyzed the ten most important artificial intelligence applications, including ChatGPT-4, Smart Assistant, Grok, Copilot, Meta AI, Google Gemini, and Perplexity. All perpetuated misinformation disseminated by "Prawda." Seven chatbots even cited specific articles from "Prawda" as sources.
Manipulation of chatbots
Researchers say "Prawda" manipulates chatbots by flooding large language models (LLMs) used for text processing and generation with false information. This method is called "LLM Grooming." The NewsGuard study shows that AI chatbots pick up misinformation circulating online and are deliberately subjected to its influence.
Meanwhile, the nonprofit organization American Sunlight Project warns in a separate study of the growing reach of the "Prawda" network, also known as "Portal Kombat," and the risk of flooding LLM training data with pro-Russian content.
"The ability of the 'Prawda' network to spread misinformation on such a scale is unprecedented, and its potential to influence AI systems makes this threat even more dangerous," says Nina Jankowicz, executive director of the American Sunlight Project. According to her, with the increasing reach and sophistication of Russian influences, the integrity of democratic debate worldwide is directly threatened.
Experts warn that the threat from Russian disinformation is particularly significant because the United States is doing nothing to counteract it. As reported by several American media outlets at the beginning of the month, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a temporary halt to cyber operations against Russia. All American actions against Moscow are currently being reassessed.
Kremlin propaganda on X, Telegram, Bluesky
The Moscow-based network "Prawda" was founded in April 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has been steadily expanding. According to NewsGuard, it currently spans 49 countries and dozens of languages.
"Prawda" does not create its own content but uses articles from Russian state media or individuals loyal to the Kremlin, which the network disseminates millions of times through platforms such as X, Telegram, and Bluesky. For example, one false report claims that the U.S. is operating secret biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine. In February, fact-checking experts from the AFP news agency debunked a false claim on social media that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had banned access to the Truth Social network of U.S. President Donald Trump.
When NewsGuard questioned chatbots about whether Zelensky had banned Truth Social, six of them inaccurately presented the false claim as fact, frequently referencing articles from the Moscow-based network "Prawda." Additionally, NewsGuard found that the chatbots repeated misinformation from Kremlin propagandist John Mark Dougan, a former U.S. police officer, as if it were verified information. During a conference in Moscow in January, Dougan reportedly stated that advancing this Russian narrative could significantly influence artificial intelligence on a global scale. He further argued that AI should be embraced as a tool rather than feared.
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