OpenAI has shut down several accounts believed to be linked to Chinese entities after discovering they were seeking information and generating proposals related to surveillance technology, according to people familiar with the matter.

The action, taken earlier this week, is part of the company’s broader effort to prevent misuse of its artificial intelligence tools for military or state surveillance purposes.

Sources said the banned users had been prompting OpenAI’s systems to draft project outlines, technical descriptions, and feasibility studies involving large-scale monitoring systems and data analysis tools.

While there was no direct evidence that the accounts were government-run, investigators traced the activity to organizations and individuals operating from mainland China and Hong Kong.

OpenAI confirmed in a statement that it had “terminated a small number of accounts for violating its use policies,” emphasizing that its technology must not be used for “developing or deploying surveillance systems intended to infringe on privacy or human rights.”

The company said it works closely with partners to identify and address patterns of misuse across geopolitical regions.

The move comes amid growing scrutiny of how advanced AI systems are being used globally, particularly by state-affiliated actors. U.S. authorities have warned that emerging AI models could be exploited for cyber espionage, social control, or disinformation campaigns if not properly safeguarded.

OpenAI has faced pressure from regulators and lawmakers to tighten access to its tools in high-risk markets, including China, Russia, and Iran.

Industry analysts say the crackdown reflects a new phase in OpenAI’s governance strategy as it expands globally.

The company has stepped up its monitoring of suspicious activity and strengthened compliance protocols to ensure its models are not used in ways that could compromise global security or human rights protections.

Source: Reuters.