Russian Influence Operation Used Fake School Directives in Peru and Ecuador
Summary
OpenAI reported that a Russia-based influence operation used spoofed education-authority emails, fake documents and a local organization to influence schools in Peru and Ecuador. AI aided the workflow but did not create new attack methods.
Key points
- The operation, dubbed Dark Clark, sent fake directives asking schools in Peru to hold events featuring Ukrainian political figures.
- Peru’s Ministry of Education later acknowledged the fraudulent directive, and Ukraine’s embassy had identified the fraud.
- Similar tactics reportedly led some Ecuadorian schools to hold a ceremony pledging allegiance to President Daniel Noboa and Erik Prince.
- OpenAI linked the operators to Politology, also known as La Compania, and said a purported research organization hired regional employees who were unaware of the disinformation effort.
- OpenAI said AI helped with planning, reporting, content creation and more natural translations, but did not enable new avenues for attack.
- OpenAI could not find evidence for some other operations the operators claimed to have conducted.
Article Details
- Event Type
- AI-assisted Russian influence operation using spoofed emails, fraudulent government directives, and a purported local organization to target schools and influence public opinion in Latin America.
- Impact
- Schools in Peru and Ecuador were reportedly tricked into holding events featuring Ukrainian political figures or pledging allegiance to political figures. The activity generated controversy and news coverage; a politician in Poland cited the events, and Ecuador's Minister of Education issued an official denunciation. OpenAI assessed one campaign's success as 5 on its six-point Influence Operations Breakout Scale. Other claimed operations lacked corroborating evidence.
People
Threat Actors
Dark ClarkName given to the Russian influence operation targeting schools and seeking to sow division.La CompaniaEntity also known as Politology, which OpenAI's analysis linked to the operation and to Yevgeniy Prigozhin.PolitologyEntity also known as La Compania, which OpenAI's analysis linked to the operation and to Yevgeniy Prigozhin.
Vendors
Products
Countries
Argentinain an analysis of the operational use of its AI models. In other campaigns, such as activity targeting Argentina and Bolivia, the Russian operations appeared to be aimed at influencing local politics.Boliviaof the operational use of its AI models. In other campaigns, such as activity targeting Argentina and Bolivia, the Russian operations appeared to be aimed at influencing local politics.EcuadorThe AI-enabled operation used spoofed emails, fake government documents, and the creation of a local organization to target schools in Peru and Ecuador, among other efforts.PeruThe AI-enabled operation used spoofed emails, fake government documents, and the creation of a local organization to target schools in Peru and Ecuador, among other efforts.PolandBecause the operation resulted in a politician in Poland citing the events, OpenAI rated the success a 5 on the six-point Influence Operations Breakout Scale.RussiaA Russia-based influence operation sent emails posing as education authorities in Peru and Ecuador, tricking some schools into holding events the operators then used to stoke controversy, according to a report releasedUkraineevidence, including circulating a story that a Brazilian social-media influencer had been trafficked to Ukraine and the spread of an audio clip that claimed Bolivian banks intended to limit cash withdrawals. The