Chinese Agent Exposed Using ChatGPT Diary: Global Intimidation Campaign Revealed

What is the ChatGPT Chinese Agent Scandal?

A major Chinese influence operation targeting dissidents abroad has been accidentally exposed after a Chinese law enforcement official used ChatGPT as a personal diary to document a global intimidation campaign. According to a groundbreaking OpenAI report released in February 2026, the official's use of the AI chatbot revealed a sophisticated transnational repression campaign involving hundreds of operators and thousands of fake social media accounts targeting critics of the Chinese Communist Party worldwide.

How the Operation Was Discovered

The situation came to light when OpenAI researchers connected the ChatGPT user's detailed descriptions to actual online activities and their real-world impacts. The Chinese agent used ChatGPT to meticulously document operations that included impersonating U.S. immigration officials to threaten Chinese dissidents in America, creating forged court documents to pressure social media platforms into removing activists' accounts, and even fabricating a dissident's death with fake obituaries and gravestone photos. 'It's not just digital. It's not just trolling. It's industrialized. It's about attacking critics of the Chinese Communist Party,' said Ben Nimmo, head of research at OpenAI.

Key Tactics Used in the Campaign

The OpenAI investigation revealed several sophisticated tactics employed in this transnational repression effort:

• Impersonation of Officials: Chinese agents posed as U.S. immigration officials to threaten dissidents with legal consequences for their public statements
• Forged Legal Documents: Creation of fake U.S. court documents to pressure social media platforms into removing dissidents' accounts
• Death Fabrication: Spreading false rumors about a dissident's death with fabricated obituaries and gravestone images in 2023
• Political Smear Campaigns: Attempts to denigrate Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after she criticized China's human rights record
• Mass Reporting: Coordinated efforts to file thousands of false reports against activists' social media accounts

The Scale of the Operation

According to the OpenAI report, the influence operation involved hundreds of Chinese operators and thousands of fake accounts across multiple social media platforms. This represents one of the most striking examples to date of how AI tools can be exploited by authoritarian regimes to document and coordinate censorship attempts. The campaign demonstrates what modern transnational repression looks like in practice, combining digital harassment with psychological pressure tactics against critics living abroad.

The operation's discovery highlights growing concerns about AI-powered disinformation campaigns and their potential to undermine democratic processes worldwide. Similar to other state-sponsored cyber operations, this campaign shows how technology is being weaponized for political repression across borders.

What is Transnational Repression?

Transnational repression refers to state-led political repression conducted across national borders, where governments target individuals (often political dissidents or diaspora communities) through tactics like surveillance, harassment, intimidation, and digital attacks. According to Freedom House, China is responsible for approximately 22% of all transnational repression cases globally. The phenomenon has been increasing due to globalization and internet technologies that enable more cross-border communication.

AI's Role in Modern Repression

The ChatGPT incident demonstrates how artificial intelligence is becoming a new front in information warfare between nations. While ChatGPT itself wasn't used to generate most of the harmful content (the AI refused to assist with political smear campaigns), it served as a crucial planning and documentation tool. The user turned to other AI models when ChatGPT declined to help with certain operations, highlighting how multiple AI tools can be combined in sophisticated influence operations.

OpenAI has since banned the Chinese agent's account and characterized these activities as part of China's broader transnational repression efforts targeting critics both domestically and internationally. The company's investigation revealed these were 'well-resourced, meticulously planned' cyber operations representing a form of modern repression that combines digital harassment with psychological warfare.

Global Implications and Responses

The revelation has significant implications for international relations and digital security. CNN has contacted the Chinese embassy in the U.S. for comment but has not received a response. The incident comes amid growing tensions between China and Western nations over human rights issues and technological competition.

This case also raises important questions about AI ethics and regulation in the context of national security. As AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible, governments and technology companies face increasing challenges in preventing their misuse for harmful purposes while preserving legitimate uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How was the Chinese intimidation campaign discovered?

The campaign was accidentally exposed when a Chinese law enforcement official used ChatGPT as a personal diary to document operations. OpenAI researchers connected the user's detailed descriptions to actual online activities and real-world impacts.

What tactics did the Chinese agents use?

They used multiple tactics including impersonating U.S. immigration officials, creating forged court documents, fabricating a dissident's death with fake obituaries, and attempting smear campaigns against political figures like Japan's Prime Minister.

How many people were involved in the operation?

The OpenAI report indicates the operation involved hundreds of Chinese operators and thousands of fake accounts across various social media platforms.

What has OpenAI done in response?

OpenAI has banned the Chinese agent's account and published its findings to raise awareness about how AI tools can be misused for transnational repression.

What is transnational repression?

Transnational repression is state-led political repression conducted across national borders, targeting individuals (often dissidents or diaspora communities) through surveillance, harassment, intimidation, and digital attacks.

Sources

CNN Report on Chinese Intimidation Operation
OECD AI Incident Report
The Register Analysis
Power Corridors Investigation