OpenAI uncovers Russian and Iranian influence ops that planted fake stories in real news outlets
OpenAI's first Category 5 influence op: Russian 'Dark Clark' and Iranian 'Bogus Bylines' planted nearly 100 fake articles in real news outlets worldwide.
Why it matters
OpenAI disclosed two state-backed disinformation campaigns that weaponized AI to seed fake narratives in legitimate news outlets, earning OpenAI's highest severity rating and signaling how influence operations are scaling beyond social media into the news supply chain itself.
The key facts
11 to knowRussian 'Dark Clark' campaign: Category 5 rating (first in OpenAI's reporting history)
Iranian 'Bogus Bylines' operation: seven fake journalists placed nearly 100 articles in online outlets worldwide
Geographic reach: Latin America (Dark Clark), global (Bogus Bylines)
Accounts banned by OpenAI
Dark Clark earned reactions from politicians
Both campaigns used AI tools (OpenAI's products implied as vector)
Russian 'Dark Clark' campaign: first category 5 rating (out of 6) in OpenAI's reporting history
Iranian 'Bogus Bylines' operation: seven fake journalists placed ~100 articles across online outlets worldwide
Russian operation spread disinformation across Latin America, drew political reactions
OpenAI banned all associated accounts
Published October 9, 2026
Go to the source
The Decoderthe-decoder.com
Publisher excerpt: OpenAI exposed a Russian and an Iranian influence operation and banned the accounts involved. The Russian "Dark Clark" campaign spread disinformation across Latin America and drew reactions from politicians, earning the first category 5 out of 6 rating in OpenAI's reporting history. The Iranian…