How the UAE and MEK weaponize AI to spread propaganda

How the UAE and MEK weaponize AI to spread propaganda Somewhere inside Iran, a network of activists exchanged messages about politics and news with an activist — nicknamed “Parsa” — on the messaging app Telegram. They had no idea they were actually speaking to an AI agent that had copied the real activist’s style by training it on 8,400 real Telegram posts. Instead of “Parsa,” they were actually communicating with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), an Iranian Islamist-Marxist opposition group widely regarded as a cult. According to a report from Anthropic released last month, this operation was carried out by four individuals working for the MEK. They built an AI agent named “Viktor” that also surveilled individuals inside Iran and flooded social media platforms with pro-MEK content under “independent” branding. The Anthropic report sheds light on how foreign actors are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools like Claude and ChatGPT for their influence operations. AI agents like Viktor are software systems powered by large-language models that can operate autonomously. A lot of the actions described in the report — like drafting reports, creating content, compiling information — looks like ordinary work similar to what millions of Americans use Claude and ChatGPT for. Perhaps the report’s biggest surprise is the degree to which U.S.-aligned groups and partners have embraced AI for their influence operations. The MEK, for example, boasts notable support on Capitol Hill. Last year, 230 members of the House co-sponsored a resolution urging U.S. Support for the MEK’s plan for Iran. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are just a handful of high-profile Republican politicians who have spoken at MEK rallies, often for a hefty speaking fee.