AI Voice Imitates Marco Rubio in Messages Sent to Top Officials, According to State Department
An unidentified individual or group using artificial intelligence impersonated Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reaching out to at least five high-ranking government officials in mid-June, as reported in a State Department cable obtained by NBC News. This incident has raised significant concerns about the potential for manipulation and information security within the government. According to the memo, the impersonator aimed to influence targeted individuals through AI-generated text and voice messages, potentially seeking access to sensitive information or accounts.
At least three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress were contacted by the fake Rubio. The impersonator employed the display name “[email protected]” on Signal, a messaging platform, although this email address is not functional. Notably, Signal allows users to choose their own nicknames, meaning the impersonator’s choice does not indicate actual access to Rubio’s email.
In addition to this incident, Rubio had previously been involved in a situation referred to as “Signalgate,” within the Trump administration, where sensitive discussions were inadvertently shared due to a misdirection on the Signal app. The recent impersonation attempt appears to correlate with an earlier FBI investigation into efforts to impersonate high-ranking U.S. officials, including Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff. A senior State Department official confirmed the investigation into this operation, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to safeguarding information and enhancing cybersecurity.
The exact methods used by the impersonator remain unclear; however, generative AI technologies, including advanced voice cloning, have made it easier for malicious actors to create convincing impersonations. As a precaution, the cable, signed by Rubio, was disseminated to all U.S. diplomatic posts to alert them about potential cyber threats involving impersonation of State officials.