A think-tank, the Institute of East Asia Strategic Studies (IEASS), has been exposed for using AI-generated profiles and fabricated credentials to solicit sensitive information from security analysts. According to reporting by The Straits Times, the organization lacks a physical office in Singapore and its listed staff members do not appear in official university or professional databases.
The Anatomy of a Digital Deception
The alarm was first raised by Bill Hayton, an associate fellow at the British think-tank Chatham House. After noticing the institute approaching Western security analysts, Hayton questioned the organization’s legitimacy on social media. Investigative checks by The Straits Times revealed that the IEASS website, which claimed a 2019 founding date in Singapore, was not registered with local authorities.
Of the 12 employees listed on the IEASS website, only three had public LinkedIn profiles, all of which have since been deleted. Two of these accounts, under the names Travis Walker and Viga Oborski, featured AI-generated profile pictures displaying common visual artifacts around the glasses and ears. Furthermore, claims by these individuals that they held degrees from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) were refuted by a university spokesperson, who confirmed that no such students existed and that the university does not offer the degrees mentioned.
Did you know?
The IEASS website was built using “Lovable,” an AI platform capable of generating functional websites, and shared a digital infrastructure with other questionable entities like Sentinel Global Affairs and Strategy (SGAS) and East Asia Strategic Insights (EASI).
Tactics Used to Target Security Professionals
The IEASS strategy mirrored techniques documented in previous espionage cases. The group contacted individuals—including a person working within NATO—offering “competitive professional fees” for analytical briefs and suggesting “off-the-record conversations.” These solicitations were designed to gain access to non-public information regarding national security and geopolitical policy.
Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, noted that using Singapore as a base provides a veneer of legitimacy to these operations. “The major powers, in particular, or any other countries that are geopolitical rivals, are all doing this,” Faizal said. This modus operandi bears similarities to the case of Dickson Yeo, a Singaporean who pleaded guilty in the US in 2020 to acting as an illegal agent for foreign intelligence by using fake consultancies on LinkedIn to recruit analysts.
Modern Risks in Geopolitical Research
The rise of generative AI has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for creating credible-looking front organizations. By utilizing AI-generated imagery and automated content creation, such groups can quickly establish a professional online presence. However, these digital facades often crumble under basic verification, such as physical address checks or university enrollment audits.
When The Straits Times visited the address listed by IEASS at Millenia Walk, no such office existed. Following the investigation, the institute removed its contact information, including a UK-based phone number, from its website. Analysts remain wary of these trends, noting that the small, close-knit nature of the legitimate security research community in Singapore makes it easier to identify these external intrusions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can analysts verify if a think-tank is legitimate?
Experts recommend checking local business registries, verifying physical office locations, and cross-referencing listed staff members with public academic and professional databases. - What are common signs of an AI-generated profile?
Look for visual inconsistencies in profile pictures, such as distorted glasses, irregular ear shapes, or a lack of search results on facial-recognition platforms like PimEyes. - Why do these groups target security analysts?
These entities often seek to gather non-public information or influence policy discussions by commissioning “analytical briefs” from individuals with access to sensitive data.
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