A Russia-linked network uses AI to rewrite real news stories
CopyCop churned out 19,000 deceptive posts in a month
IN THE 1980S the KGB had a well-worn method for pumping disinformation around the world. “We preferred to work on genuine documents,” recalled Oleg Kalugin, a former KGB general, “with some additions and changes.” That method has not changed greatly, but technology has accelerated the process. In early March a network of websites, dubbed CopyCop, began publishing stories in English and French on a range of contentious issues. They accused Israel of war crimes, amplified divisive political debates in America over slavery reparations and immigration and spread nonsensical stories about Polish mercenaries in Ukraine.
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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Breaking the news”
From the May 18th 2024 edition
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