Feds Accuse Russia of Creating 1,000 Fake AI Accounts on X

The U.S. Justice Department has accused Russia of orchestrating a sophisticated disinformation campaign using nearly 1,000 fake AI-generated accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter. The allegation marks the latest chapter in ongoing concerns over Russian attempts to influence American social media and sow discord. The Justice Department identified a total of 968 bot accounts linked to Russia Today, a state-controlled media outlet, which were suspended during and prior to the department’s investigation. This operation, according to the DOJ, was reportedly supported by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The bots, which pretended to be American users from cities like Minneapolis, were used to disseminate pro-Russian propaganda and justify Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

These AI-enhanced bots were created using a software tool known as Meliorator, exclusively on X, federal authorities revealed. Further analysis from a joint cybersecurity advisory by the FBI and international partners suggests that this software might also be employed on other social media platforms. The AI-generated accounts varied in sophistication. Some featured realistic profile pictures, detailed biographies, political leanings, names, and locations designed to deceive and spread disinformation. Others were less detailed but were actively used to boost engagement on various posts through “likes,” contributing to the broader disinformation campaign.

The Russian Embassy and Russia Today have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these allegations. FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the significance of this operation, stating, “Russia intended to use this bot farm to disseminate AI-generated foreign disinformation, scaling their work with the assistance of AI to undermine our partners in Ukraine and influence geopolitical narratives favorable to the Russian government.”

This accusation is part of a larger pattern of alleged Russian interference in American social media. The origins of such claims date back to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, when it was alleged that Russian actors attempted to disrupt election integrity and fuel division among Americans through digital propaganda and fake accounts on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. U.S. intelligence agencies later concluded that these efforts were aimed at boosting Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, although the actual impact on the election remains unclear.

The allegations of Russian disinformation continued into the 2020 election cycle, with U.S. officials accusing Russia of similar tactics and campaigns against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, the State Department has alleged that Russia used disinformation to obscure its alleged use of chemical weapons during its invasion of Ukraine, a claim that the Kremlin has denied, asserting compliance with international bans on chemical weapons.

Bots have been a persistent issue on X and its predecessor, Twitter. The problem has attracted significant attention, particularly from Elon Musk, who stated before his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, “we will defeat the spam bots or die trying.” Following the purchase, Musk and X have claimed to initiate a “system purge of bots & trolls” and to hold those behind bot accounts accountable with legal actions. However, the full extent of bot activity and the effectiveness of these anti-bot measures remain unclear, as the platform has yet to disclose comprehensive data on bot activity and account removals. In summary, the recent allegations underscore a continued and complex battle over digital influence, highlighting both the evolving techniques used in disinformation campaigns and the ongoing efforts by social media platforms to combat these threats.