Russia's Influence in Canada's Freedom Convoy Exploited via AI Chatbots

• •Russian state media RT extensively covered the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests in Canada.
• •AI chatbots are increasingly used for news, raising concerns about their susceptibility to disinformation.
• •The tactic of large language model grooming involves flooding AI with biased content to influence public perception.

In 2022, the Freedom Convoy protests in Canada saw significant coverage from Russian state media, particularly RT, which amplified the movement's grievances despite its limited relevance to Russian citizens. A recent analysis indicates that this coverage was part of a broader strategy by Russia to exploit polarizing events in Western democracies. As AI chatbots increasingly become sources of news for users, with 10% of people globally relying on them, there are concerns that these models may inadvertently propagate disinformation. The Kremlin-linked Pravda network has been identified as flooding the internet with pro-Russian content, which AI chatbots have begun to repeat, a tactic referred to as large language model grooming. The implications of this trend raise questions about the influence of foreign actors on AI systems that shape public understanding and discourse. Canada is urged to critically evaluate the AI models in use and consider regulatory measures to ensure they rely on verified sources for information.