Former Police Officer Using AI to Generate Fake News Stories, Sow Discord Among Americans
www.extremetech.com

... We've known for years that threat actors might use generative AI to support their disinformation campaigns, but one man in particular is revealing just how dangerous that work can be. John Mark Dougan, a former US Marine and police officer, has reportedly spent the last eight years using fake news to sow public discord and disrupt national elections from his hideout in Moscow. His stories contain explosive tales about the first lady of Ukraine, illegal FBI operations, and Russian military campaigns -- all of which are completely made up.

Dougan's activities were revealed Tuesday following an investigation by the BBC. According to the outlet, Dougan's malicious online activities began after he left the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in Florida. Dougan started a website to collect leaked information about the law enforcement agency; once he'd gathered enough for his liking, he shared officers' private information (including their home addresses) online. Dougan also made up rumors about the officers' activities, blurring the line between what was real and what wasn't. This attracted the attention of the FBI, who raided Dougan's home in 2016, prompting Dougan to flee to Moscow. ...