The American Sunlight Project Unveils Detailed Report on the Critical Threat of Russian Disinformation in AI Models
New report warns pro-Russian Network’s Influence on AI training data could undermine global information integrity
(Washington, DC) - Today, The American Sunlight Project (ASP) released a critical new report detailing the alarming expansion of the so-called “Pravda network”, a massive system of automated propaganda aggregation that spreads pro-Russia narratives globally. The report highlights the growing reach of these influence operations and the likelihood that their content is flooding the training data for large-language models (LLMs).
ASP’s report underscores how these coordinated disinformation efforts are not only pervasive but increasingly sophisticated. The Pravda network is now producing at least 3 million articles of pro-Russian content annually, which is further amplified across platforms like X, Telegram, Bluesky, and VK. These operations, which are centralized and automated, have spread harmful anti-democratic disinformation while often being laundered through more legitimate channels, further eroding trust in credible sources.
The report also raises urgent concerns about the implications of these operations in the age of artificial intelligence. The report warns that the Pravda network’s content is poised to flood large-language models (LLMs) with pro-Kremlin content, potentially amplifying false narratives across a range of platforms, from AI chatbots to mainstream media.
"As Russian influence operations expand and grow more advanced, they pose a direct threat to the integrity of democratic discourse worldwide," said Nina Jankowicz, Co-founder and CEO of the American Sunlight Project. "The Pravda network's ability to spread disinformation at such scale is unprecedented, and its potential to influence AI systems makes this threat even more dangerous. As disinformation becomes more pervasive, and in the absence of regulation and oversight in the United States, internet users need to be even more wary of the information they consume."
This growing threat comes amid the backdrop of an unstable second Trump administration, which has weakened protections against foreign influence and disinformation, as well as a broader trend in the rise of Russia-friendly, far-right political movements. The report highlights how the influence of Russian-backed disinformation campaigns continues to grow unchecked as geopolitical and domestic distractions allow them to thrive.
The report calls on governments, civil society, and the private sector to act now to ensure greater transparency and oversight of AI training systems and disinformation campaigns.
