AI Powered Propaganda Is Scaling Like Wildfire

3 min read

Author

Midas AI Research
July 07, 2025

What happens when state backed disinformation networks gain access to consumer grade AI tools? A new wave of synthetic propaganda emerges, spreading quickly, cheaply, and with growing impact.

According to reports from WIRED and The Guardian, a pro Russia influence operation known as Operation Overload, also called Matryoshka, has dramatically accelerated its output using widely available AI tools. In just eight months, the network produced 587 fake assets, including videos, images, articles, and full websites, up from 230 the year before.

This is not just a political issue. It is a preview of how AI can be weaponized at scale, with growing risk to businesses, public figures, and platforms alike.

Disinformation Tools Are Now Public

What makes Operation Overload especially dangerous is its accessibility. This is not a black ops military operation. It relies on off the shelf AI platforms for image generation, voice cloning, and content writing, tools that anyone can access online.

The campaign has targeted global audiences across TikTok, Telegram, X, and Bluesky, generating millions of views before platforms can respond. In a strategic twist, perpetrators even submit their own disinformation to fact checkers. When flagged or debunked, the content often gains more reach as debate drives more engagement.

This tactic turns moderation into an amplification strategy.

Why Brands Should Pay Attention

Although this campaign is geopolitical in nature, the implications extend directly to the private sector. AI makes it easier to spoof executive voices, impersonate companies, or fabricate events that damage reputation and trust.

Imagine a deepfake of your CEO making a controversial statement, or fake ads showing up under your brand name. These are no longer theoretical threats. They are happening now.

Companies with high profile leadership, public communications, or active user communities are increasingly vulnerable to manipulation from AI generated content.

Detection Alone Is Not Enough

AI content detection tools are improving, but they still lag behind the speed of distribution. That means businesses need proactive defense strategies.

Begin by auditing your brand's digital presence. Monitor for suspicious mentions, altered media, or voice clones. Use modern AI enabled monitoring services to scan for unusual activity across social channels and the web.

Equally important is having a rapid response plan. Define clear internal steps for verifying content, filing takedown requests, notifying your audience, and correcting misinformation. Establish trusted communication channels like email and SMS so you are not solely dependent on platforms that may amplify the problem before moderating it.

A Growing Threat With Low Cost Entry

The case of Operation Overload is a wake up call. AI has removed the financial and technical barriers to industrial scale misinformation. What once required large budgets and insider expertise now requires only intent and internet access.

Every company needs to assume that synthetic media campaigns could target them. Whether for financial manipulation, competitive sabotage, or ideological reasons, the tools are already in use.

Prepare your systems and your people now, because once the damage is done, containment gets much harder.