OpenAI has banned accounts that appeared to originate from Russia and were using its models to generate German-language political content. The operation, dubbed “Helgoland Bite,” focused on German domestic issues, the upcoming 2025 election, and criticism of the US and NATO.

Content was distributed via a Telegram channel named “Nachhall von Helgoland,” which presented itself as local German news and had 1,755 subscribers. This content was frequently reposted verbatim on a domain linked to the Pravda network, identified as part of the Moscow-linked “Portal Kombat” influence operation. An X account associated with the operation, boasting over 27,000 followers, also posted AI-generated content supporting the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, using an AI-generated profile image.

Beyond generating articles and social media posts, the actors sought publicly available information on German opposition activists and bloggers, including contact methods. They also requested translations from Russian to German, with some messages indicating coordination and payments. While the activity spanned multiple platforms, OpenAI assesses its impact as moderate, with limited authentic engagement.