The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has seized two internet domains and searched social media accounts used by Russian threat actors to spread pro-Kremlin disinformation. The bot farm used AI to create fictitious social media profiles, promoting messages in support of Russian government objectives. The bot network was part of an elaborate scheme led by an employee of Russian state-owned media outlet RT, sponsored by the Kremlin. The operation targeted multiple countries, including the United States and Ukraine. The software used, called Meliorator, facilitated the creation and operation of the bot farm. This marks the first time the U.S. has publicly accused a foreign government of using AI in foreign influence operations.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. seizes domains and social media accounts | Crackdown on Russian disinformation | Increased government regulation and enforcement | National security concerns |
| AI-powered bot network used to spread disinformation | Automation of disinformation campaigns | More sophisticated AI-powered disinformation | Political manipulation and influence |
| Development of AI software for social media bots | Advancement of AI in disinformation tactics | More widespread and sophisticated AI use | State-sponsored disinformation campaigns |
| Russia’s Doppelganger network operates in Europe | Disinformation operations using bulletproof hosting | Increased challenge in combating disinformation | Evading detection and attribution |
| AI chatbots prone to spreading fabricated narratives | Misinformation spreading through AI chatbots | Improved chatbot algorithms and fact-checking | Lack of oversight and verification for AI content |
| Iran and China increasing foreign influence efforts | Growing aggression in foreign influence | Greater sophistication in influence campaigns | Geopolitical tensions and power struggles |
| Google’s disruption of Dragon Bridge network | Countering Chinese influence operations | Increased efforts to combat influence campaigns | Protecting national security and interests |