Anthropic report: Is Russia using AI for disinformation in the Central African Republic and elsewhere?
A new report says the AI model Claude was used in pro-Russian campaigns in the Central African Republic. Similar allegations have been made about propaganda in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Sudan and Mali.
A recent report by Anthropic claims Russian agents are utilizing the AI assistant Claude to spread disinformation in the Central African Republic and other nations. The September report detailed how Claude was employed to monitor opposition politicians, create propaganda, and bolster disinformation campaigns. Specifically, Claude allegedly supported pro-Russian content on Radio Lengo Songo, a station funded by Russia, painting the Central African government and Africa Corps mercenaries favorably.
Meanwhile, Claude was prompted to portray opposition figures as militants, potentially triggering security action against them. Experts from All Eyes on Wagner, an investigative collective, corroborated these findings, suggesting this tactic is not unique to the Central African Republic but has been observed in conflicts involving Wagner Group and its structures in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan, and Mali.
All Eyes on Wagner's Lou Osborn stated that arrests of individuals not closely linked to the Touadera regime were carried out, with online campaigns labeling them as French proxies or coup plotters. Anthropic's investigation, conducted between December 2025 and August 2026, resulted in the deletion of accounts and strengthened detection systems, halting these operations.
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