Anthropic report alleges AI-assisted Russian influence operations in Africa
A report by US technology company Anthropic alleges that its Claude AI assistant was misused in influence operations linked to Russia and other actors in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Sudan and Mali. Russia rejected the claims as vague and unsupported.
US artificial-intelligence company Anthropic says its Claude assistant was misused in influence and surveillance operations affecting several African countries. In a report published in September, Anthropic alleged that Russian agents used Claude in the Central African Republic to monitor opposition politicians, create propaganda and support disinformation campaigns. The material was reportedly used for content broadcast by Radio Lengo Songo, which investigative group All Eyes on Wagner says is funded by Russia.
Anthropic said the content portrayed Russia, the Central African government and Africa Corps forces positively while criticising France and opposition figures. It also said Claude refused a request to portray opposition politicians as armed militants in an attempt to provoke security forces. Lou Osborn of All Eyes on Wagner said the alleged activity resembled earlier campaigns connected to the Wagner Group.
Martin Ziguele, chairman of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People, said opposition figures had previously been portrayed as foreign agents or linked to rebels. Russia rejected the allegations. Dmitri Sytyi, a representative of the Russian mission in the Central African Republic, said the report contained no concrete facts and consisted of vague claims without evidence.
Anthropic also identified alleged operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Sudan and Mali. It said AI was used to generate articles and social-media messages, fabricate witness statements for the United Nations and develop a telecommunications-monitoring platform. According to the report, Anthropic disrupted all of the operations between December 2025 and August 2026 by deleting accounts and improving detection systems.
The report did not name the opposition figures monitored in the Central African Republic, specify all information collected or identify every recipient. The claims therefore remain allegations, with Russia denying involvement.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.