Two men guilty of spying for Iran over plan to target journalists and lawyer
Two Iranian men have been convicted in a UK court of spying for the IRGC, with plans to target journalists and a lawyer. The investigation notably involved the use of ChatGPT by the defendants to conduct research on their targets.
Why it matters
This case marks a significant legal precedent as it is the first time AI-generated search history has been presented as evidence in a state-sponsored threat trial in the UK.
Figure caption, Watch: Police arrests of two Iranians convicted of spying
Two Iranian men have been convicted of spying for an Iranian intelligence service by carrying out surveillance on journalists and a lawyer in the UK.
Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, were convicted of "assisting a foreign intelligence service" at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday.
They were tasked by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with monitoring the targets. Sepahvand intended to carry out a "violent attack" against at least one of them, while Manesh helped with planning.
A third man, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was cleared of the same charge.
Sepahvand was in contact with two men with Iranian telephone numbers.
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