Russia Floods Spotify and YouTube With 100s of AI War Songs
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 2
Russia Floods Spotify and YouTube With 100s of AI War Songs
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 2
Summary
Hundreds of AI-generated songs praising Russian troops and vilifying Ukrainians have appeared on Spotify, Apple, YouTube and Deezer, marking a new front in Moscow’s propaganda campaign.
Millions of plays were recorded across those platforms, according to Terrecon, a Ukraine-focused threat intelligence nonprofit that said many of the music generators used are based in the United States.
The tracks range from ballads to thrash metal, depict the front as a hellscape and cast Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion as a necessary act of defense.
One of the most popular songs, “Power of Artillery,” celebrates Russian weapons systems such as Krasnopol and Carnation, showing how generative AI is being adapted for wartime influence operations.