CU Independent Faces Impersonation Crisis from AI-Generated Copycat Website

The CU Independent (CUI), a student-run news outlet at the University of Colorado Boulder, is grappling with a copycat website, cuindependent.com, which publishes AI-generated content and misleads readers. The legitimate site, now located at cuindependent.org, warns users that it is not affiliated with the impersonator. The situation has caused significant distress among CUI's student journalists, who are concerned about their reputation and the integrity of their reporting.

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The impersonation crisis stems from years of unorganized cybersecurity management within the CUI. The original domain registration for cuindependent.com was poorly documented, leading to difficulties in renewing the account. Jessica Sachs, a former editor-in-chief, noted that the website would occasionally go offline when the registration lapsed, causing stress among the staff. After the domain expired, it was purchased by an unknown party, leading to the emergence of the fraudulent site.

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Greta Kerkhoff, the current CUI editor-in-chief, has been vocal about the challenges posed by the impersonator site, stating, “In my time as editor-in-chief, I would love to spend more time working on our reporting than trying to fix this website that’s impersonating us.” Jessica Sachs, who served as editor-in-chief during the 2024-2025 academic year, described the situation as “incredibly malicious.” Legal support has been sought from attorney Alexandra Bass, who emphasizes the growing prevalence of copycat sites and the complications introduced by AI-generated content.

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Critics, including faculty members like Patrick Ferrucci, chair of the journalism department, have expressed concern over the impact of AI-generated content on journalistic integrity. Ferrucci stated that such content can be “inauthentic and misleading,” contrasting sharply with the ethical standards upheld by student journalists. The impersonator site has been accused of using fictitious writer profiles and AI-generated images, further complicating the issue.

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The CUI has taken steps to address the impersonation, including filing a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy complaint to reclaim the original domain. Kerkhoff has also reported the fraudulent site to various entities, including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, although the latter could not pursue the case due to difficulties in proving financial gain from the impersonation. Bass advised the CUI to document instances of public confusion and to establish a designated person for domain maintenance to prevent future issues.

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The CUI continues to navigate the complexities of this situation, with ongoing legal efforts to address the impersonation. The student journalists remain committed to protecting their intellectual property and restoring their reputation, despite the challenges posed by the copycat website. As they work to resolve these issues, they face the added burden of intermittent security problems affecting their new site, cuindependent.org.

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“Online AI-generated content can be inauthentic and misleading and should not be confused with high-quality community journalism, professional ethics and editorial standards, and the skills of dedicated student journalists honing their craft at CU Boulder and at other colleges and universities,” — Patrick Ferrucci, Chair, CU Boulder Journalism Department

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“It feels incredibly malicious.” — Jessica Sachs, Former CUI Editor-in-Chief

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“Whoever is doing this seems to have a good understanding of media law because they narrowly scrape by with what they can get away with,” — Greta Kerkhoff, CUI Editor-in-Chief

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“We’re very proud of these student journalists who are stepping up not only to report it but to protect their intellectual property.” — Jonathan Gaston-Falk, Attorney, Student Press Law Center

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