OpenAI, the renowned creators of ChatGPT, have taken a strong stance against deceptive uses of AI in covert operations targeting the Indian elections. According to a report by OpenAI, the company swiftly intervened within 24 hours to disrupt any attempts at manipulating public opinion during the Lok Sabha Election 2024.
The report highlighted the activities of STOIC, a political campaign management firm based in Israel, which had been generating content related to Indian elections and the Gaza conflict. The content generated by STOIC focused on India, criticizing the ruling BJP party and praising the opposition Congress party. OpenAI acted promptly to disrupt this activity less than 24 hours after it began.
Furthermore, OpenAI revealed that a cluster of accounts operated from Israel were banned for engaging in this covert influence operation. These accounts were utilized to produce and edit content across various platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, websites, and YouTube. Initially targeting audiences in Canada, the United States, and Israel in English and Hebrew, the operation later shifted its focus to audiences in India with English-language content.
In response to the report, Minister of State for Electronics & Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed concerns over the influence operations, misinformation, and foreign interference that were targeted at @BJP4India. Chandrasekhar emphasized the threat these operations pose to Indian democracy and called for a thorough investigation into these activities.
OpenAI reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring the safe and ethical use of AI. The company’s commitment to combating abuse of its platform was evident as it revealed its efforts to disrupt multiple covert influence operations in the last three months, including the operation conducted by STOIC. OpenAI’s robust strategy involves monitoring and disrupting threat actors, investing in technology to identify and counter misuse of AI, and collaborating with other entities in the AI ecosystem to prevent abuses.
The recent revelations shed light on the critical role that AI companies like OpenAI play in safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes and public discourse. The firm’s proactive measures to counter covert influence operations reinforce the importance of ethical AI deployment and transparency in combating online manipulation.
