OpenAI Bans China-Linked Accounts Over Surveillance Tool Requests

OpenAI says it has banned multiple ChatGPT accounts suspected of connections to Chinese government entities after those users tried to solicit proposals for social media surveillance tools.  According to OpenAI’s latest public threat report, these accounts asked the AI to draft “listening” systems and monitoring frameworks—actions that violated its national security policies. 

In addition to requests for surveillance capabilities, OpenAI flagged accounts in Chinese languages that assisted phishing or malware operations, or sought automation help tied to China’s DeepSeek platform.  It also banned users linked to Russian-speaking criminal groups using ChatGPT for malware design.  Despite these bans, OpenAI says there is no evidence its models created new offensive capabilities for threat actors. 

These actions come amid rising concerns over how generative AI can be repurposed for espionage, influence, or data sabotage—especially in the context of U.S.–China tech rivalry.  OpenAI underscores that, since starting its public threat-reporting regime in early 2024, it has disrupted over 40 malicious networks. 

The move signals how OpenAI is taking a firmer stance on platform misuse, even as it scales toward 800 million weekly ChatGPT users and navigates intense regulatory scrutiny.