general-public-of-the-united-states

What changed

In a report released by OpenAI, the company described how its generative AI tools were misused by state actors and private companies in Russia, China, Iran, and Israel to conduct covert influence campaigns aimed at manipulating public opinion and geopolitical narratives.

Timeline

1. 3 May 2026Covert AI Influence Operations Linked to Russia, China, Iran, and Israel, OpenAI Reports
   Incident82%

   • OpenAI Says Russia and China Used Its A.I. in Covert Campaignshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/technology/openai-influence-campaigns-report.html
   • Iran Emerges as a Top Disinformation Threat in U.S. Presidential Racehttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/04/business/media/iran-disinformation-us-presidential-race.html
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 774https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/774/

   OpenAI Says Russia and China Used Its A.I. in Covert CampaignsIran Emerges as a Top Disinformation Threat in U.S. Presidential RaceAI Incident Database - Incident 774
2. 15 Mar 2026Florida Couple Reportedly Loses $45,000 in Alleged AI-Generated Elon Musk Impersonation Scam
   Incident82%

   • Elon Musk giveaway scheme steals $45,000 from Florida couplehttps://www.clickorlando.com/news/investigators/2025/12/15/elon-musk-giveaway-scheme-steals-45000-from-florida-couple/
   • Elon Musk deepfake scam steals $45,000 from couple: 'You just never think it's going to be you'https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/elon-musk-deepfake-scam-steals-230000179.html
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1306https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1306/

   Elon Musk giveaway scheme steals $45,000 from Florida coupleElon Musk deepfake scam steals $45,000 from couple: 'You just never think it's going to be you'AI Incident Database - Incident 1306
3. 28 Feb 2026DHS Agents Reportedly Threatened Legal Observers With 'Domestic Terrorist' Database While Using Purportedly AI-Enabled Surveillance During ICE Operations
   Incident78%

   • DHS accused of using surveillance technology to track legal observershttps://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/immigration/dhs-accused-of-using-surveillance-technology-to-track-legal-observers
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1390https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1390/

   DHS accused of using surveillance technology to track legal observersAI Incident Database - Incident 1390
4. 7 Feb 2026Border Patrol Agent Allegedly Claimed Facial Recognition Identified Minneapolis ICE Observer and Global Entry Was Reportedly Revoked Three Days Later
   Incident78%

   • ICE observer says her Global Entry was revoked after agent scanned her facehttps://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/ice-protester-says-her-global-entry-was-revoked-after-agent-scanned-her-face/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1362https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1362/

   ICE observer says her Global Entry was revoked after agent scanned her faceAI Incident Database - Incident 1362
5. 12 Dec 2025Bodycam Footage Reportedly Contradicted Purportedly ChatGPT-Generated Use-of-Force Narrative by Immigration Agent
   Incident78%

   • Bodycam footage from Operation Midway Blitz released: ‘It’s all about arresting people’https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/bodycam-footage-from-operation-midway-blitz-released/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1299https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1299/

   Bodycam footage from Operation Midway Blitz released: ‘It’s all about arresting people’AI Incident Database - Incident 1299
6. 24 Oct 2025Purportedly AI-Generated 'King Trump' Fighter Jet Video Allegedly Posted by President Depicts Defecation Attack on 'No Kings' Protesters
   Incident82%

   • Trump posts AI video showing him dumping on No Kings protestershttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-posts-ai-video-dumping-no-kings-protesters-rcna238521
   • Donald Trump’s War on Realityhttps://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/10/trump-artificial-intelligence-deepfake/684652/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1244https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1244/

   Trump posts AI video showing him dumping on No Kings protestersDonald Trump’s War on RealityAI Incident Database - Incident 1244
7. 18 Oct 2025Purported AI-Generated Deepfake Video Reportedly Depicts Senator Chuck Schumer Endorsing Government Shutdown in NRSC Campaign Ad
   Incident82%

   • A GOP attack ad deepfakes Chuck Schumer with AIhttps://www.npr.org/2025/10/17/nx-s1-5578279/ai-schumer-gop-attack-ad
   • Republicans use deepfake video of Chuck Schumer in new attack adhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/17/republican-ad-deepfake-video-chuck-schumer
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 1231https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/1231/

   A GOP attack ad deepfakes Chuck Schumer with AIRepublicans use deepfake video of Chuck Schumer in new attack adAI Incident Database - Incident 1231
8. 16 Mar 2025Alleged AI-Generated IRS Scam Websites Used to Defraud U.S. Taxpayers
   Incident78%

   • Scammers using AI to create fake IRS sites. Here's other scams to watch out for.https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/scammers-ai-fake-irs-sites-other-scams/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 991https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/991/

   Scammers using AI to create fake IRS sites. Here's other scams to watch out for.AI Incident Database - Incident 991
9. 7 Mar 2025Purported Deepfake Targets Olena Zelenska in Alleged Russian Disinformation Campaign
   Incident82%

   • Deepfake video targeting Zelensky’s wife linked to Russian disinformation campaign, CNN analysis showshttps://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/europe/deepfake-video-zelensky-wife-intl-latam/index.html
   • Deepfake targets Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenksa with false claim she bought Bugattihttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/olena-zelenska-false-claim-she-bought-bugatti/
   • AI Incident Database - Incident 755https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/755/

   Deepfake video targeting Zelensky’s wife linked to Russian disinformation campaign, CNN analysis showsDeepfake targets Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenksa with false claim she bought BugattiAI Incident Database - Incident 755
10. 7 Mar 2025Russian Disinformation Campaign Allegedly Used Fake News Site 'KBSF-San Francisco News' and Deepfake Video to Falsely Accuse Kamala Harris of 2011 Hit-and-Run
    Incident82%

    • Fact Check: Kamala Harris hit-and-run story stems from unreliable websitehttps://www.reuters.com/fact-check/kamala-harris-hit-and-run-story-stems-unreliable-website-2024-09-20/
    • Deepfake con le IA: il caso della finta donna afroamericana che accusa Kamala Harris di averla investitahttps://www.repubblica.it/tecnologia/2024/09/09/news/deepfake_kamala_harris_donald_trump_fake_news_intelligenza_artificiale_alisha_brown-423488092/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 969https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/969/

    Fact Check: Kamala Harris hit-and-run story stems from unreliable websiteDeepfake con le IA: il caso della finta donna afroamericana che accusa Kamala Harris di averla investitaAI Incident Database - Incident 969
11. 7 Mar 2025Iranian Hacker Group Cotton Sandstorm Reportedly Integrating AI into Cyber Influence Operations
    Incident82%

    • Iranian hacker group aims at US election websites and media before vote, Microsoft sayshttps://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/iranian-hacker-group-focuses-us-election-websites-media-ahead-vote-microsoft-2024-10-23/
    • US and Israel Warn of Iranian Threat Actor’s New Tradecrafthttps://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-israel-iran-new-tradecraft/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 971https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/971/

    Iranian hacker group aims at US election websites and media before vote, Microsoft saysUS and Israel Warn of Iranian Threat Actor’s New TradecraftAI Incident Database - Incident 971
12. 6 Feb 2025Alleged Deepfake Scam Reportedly Promoted Trump Golden Eagles Project as Investment Opportunity
    Incident78%

    • Bay Area victim duped by AI-generated Trump gold investment scam: Here's what to knowhttps://abc7news.com/post/bay-area-victim-duped-ai-generated-trump-golden-eagles-project-collectible-scam/15852376/
    • AI Incident Database - Incident 920https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/920/

    Bay Area victim duped by AI-generated Trump gold investment scam: Here's what to knowAI Incident Database - Incident 920

PSF mapping