INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United States has disrupted a Russian disinformation campaign involving AI-powered bots used to create fake profiles on the social media
platform X, the Justice Department said Tuesday.Officials seized two internet domains and searched 968 social media accounts that Russian
operatives allegedly used to create an artificial intelligence "bot farm" and peddle disinformation in the United States and other
government objectives," the statement said.The United States actions "represent a first in disrupting a Russian-sponsored Generative
Russia's FSB security service, the Justice Department said.United States officials have warned of efforts by foreign powers, including
Russia, to meddle in the American presidential election in November.Tech campaigners have voiced concern that the integrity of key elections
around the world this year could be threatened by rapid advancements in cyber-tech, particularly AI, and increasing friction among major
powers.United States President Joe Biden kicked off a NATO summit Tuesday in Washington aimed at showing resolve against Russia and support
for Ukraine, which Moscow invaded in February 2022.The Justice Department said several false narratives were peddled by the bot farm on
X.Those included a video by a purported Minneapolis resident that showed Russian President Vladimir Putin asserting that areas of Ukraine,
Poland and Lithuania were "gifts" to those countries from liberating Russian forces during World War II."Russia intended to use this bot
farm to disseminate AI-generated foreign disinformation, scaling their work with the assistance of AI to undermine our partners in Ukraine
and influence geopolitical narratives favorable to the Russian government," Wray said.
