OpenAI report: Accounts linked to Chinese law enforcement used ChatGPT to seek data on Americans. Hundreds of emails generated with the help of the chatbot
ChatGPT, PHOTO: Boarding1now, Dreamstime.com
OpenAI announced that it has suspended several accounts associated with Chinese law enforcement, scammers specializing in romance scams and influencer operations, including a smear campaign targeting Japan's first female prime minister, according to a report detailing how ChatGPT technology was misused.
The company said some of the accounts were using the chatbot, along with other tools, including social media accounts, to conduct illegal cyber activities, posing as matchmaking agencies, law firms or US officials, among others, Reuters notes.
Messages to American officials
A small number of accounts, believed to be from China, used the OpenAI models to request information about US citizens, online forums and locations of federal buildings, as well as asking for directions on how to use face-swapping programs.
The same accounts generated emails in English to US government officials or public policy analysts in the fields of business and finance, inviting them to participate in paid consultations.
OpenAI has announced that it has blocked a ChatGPT account associated with a person with ties to Chinese law enforcement whose work allegedly involved coordinating an undercover influence operation targeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
“Roamnce scam” with hundreds of victims per month
A group of ChatGPT accounts used the chatbot to run a “romance scam” scheme targeting men in Indonesia that allegedly defrauded hundreds of victims each month, according to OpenAI.
The company said the scam used ChatGPT to generate promotional texts and ads for a fake dating service, luring users to sign up to the platform and pressuring them to complete several “tasks” that entailed substantial payments.
Several accounts also used OpenAI models to pose as law firms and impersonate real lawyers or US law enforcement officials, targeting fraud victims, the company said.
PHOTO: Boarding1now, Dreamstime.com
