The State Department is currently investigating an incident in which an individual employed AI technology to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the department’s awareness of the situation, describing it as serious and indicative of the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.
The impersonator contacted foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, utilizing AI-generated voice and text messages that closely mimicked Rubio’s communication style. Bruce emphasized that the department is actively monitoring the situation and working to ensure information security.
However, she refrained from disclosing specific details regarding Rubio’s reaction or any actions being taken. She noted the urgency of cybersecurity improvements in light of such technological threats.
The impersonation attempts reportedly began in mid-June when the suspect created a Signal account with a display name resembling Rubio’s official email address. According to a State Department cable, the impersonator engaged with at least five individuals outside the department, including three foreign ministers, a state governor, and a congressional member.
They allegedly left voicemails and sent text messages inviting recipients to communicate via Signal. Despite the sophisticated technology used for these impersonation attempts, a senior U.S. official described them as somewhat ineffective and lacking in sophistication.
While the Identity of the impersonator remains unclear, there are suspicions they aimed to manipulate officials to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The situation underscores the challenges posed by advancing technology in terms of security and authenticity in communications among government officials.
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