&w=3840&q=100)
US govt warns staff, diplomats of attempted Rubio impersonation using AI
The warning follows a Washington Post report that an individual posing as Rubio contacted several senior officials — including three foreign ministers, a US governor and a member of Congress — using AI to mimic Rubio's voice and writing style. The newspaper cited a senior US official and a State Department cable dated July 3.
'The actor left voicemails on Signal for at least two targeted individuals and, in one instance, sent a text message inviting the individual to communicate on Signal,' the cable said.
'Access to information and accounts'
Authorities have not yet identified the person behind the impersonation attempts. However, officials suspect the aim was to deceive senior figures in order to obtain access to sensitive information or online accounts. A message from Rubio's office to State Department staff stated the purpose was likely 'with the goal of gaining access to information or accounts,' The Washington Post reported.
It added that in mid-June, the impersonator created a Signal account under the display name 'Marco.Rubio@state.gov' to contact diplomats and officials both within the US and internationally. The cable clarified this was a display name and not an actual government email address, the report added.
The State Department declined to reveal the content of the messages or the identities of those targeted.
Not a first
The Rubio incident is not isolated. In May, a separate impersonation attempt targeted Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff. Someone allegedly accessed her phone and began calling and messaging senators, governors and business leaders while posing as Wiles, The Wall Street Journal reported.
That same month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned that 'malicious actors' had been impersonating top US officials in 'an ongoing malicious text and voice messaging campaign'. These attempts, which included AI-generated voices, were intended to 'elicit information or funds,' the report added.
'If you receive a message claiming to be from a senior US official,' the FBI warned, 'do not assume it is authentic.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Operation Grayskull: US justice department shuts child abuse sites; had 120,000 users and millions of files
US federal authorities have taken down a massive dark web network trading child sexual abuse material, in what the justice department described as 'one of the most successful' operations of its kind. The move has resulted in the conviction of at least 18 individuals across the United States. The man at the centre of the investigation, William Spearman, known online as 'Boss,' was arrested in November 2022 during a high-risk raid on his home in Madison, Alabama. The search warrant for his arrest was deemed so critical it received direct approval from the FBI director himself. Agents breached his home using tactical explosives, and despite Spearman fighting back, with three handguns within arm's reach, he was subdued and arrested. His capture marked a pivotal moment in Operation Grayskull, a years-long investigation that uncovered four of the most heavily trafficked child exploitation websites on the dark web. The FBI said these platforms were responsible for hosting and distributing hundreds of thousands of sexually exploitative images of children, with a million files, having over 120,000 members and recording upwards of 100,000 visits in a single day. 'This is one of the most successful of all time,' said Matthew Galeotti, head of the justice department's criminal division. 'We dismantled four websites that have not regenerated.' Spearman pleaded guilty a year after his arrest and has since been sentenced to life imprisonment. Prosecutors described him as 'one of the most significant' distributors of child sex abuse material globally. A sentencing memo noted that his refusal to surrender peacefully stemmed from the troves of incriminating evidence on his devices. 'The devices at his desk contained massive quantities of evidence proving that he was the lead administrator of Website A,' the memo cited by CBS News said. 'Unsurprisingly, the defendant's devices also contained an enormous collection of images and videos depicting the rape and abuse of children.' The investigation began in 2020 after authorities observed an alarming increase in traffic to a suspected dark web child abuse site. That discovery quickly led to a broader international operation, exposing a deeply embedded and technologically advanced network of abusers. 'These are people who have a more of a technical understanding,' Galeotti said. 'The defendants in this case, as sadistic as they may be, are somewhat sophisticated,' noting the use of encryption and other evasive tools. Among those convicted was Selwyn Rosenstein, who in 2022 was sentenced to 28 years in prison. His platform, prosecutors said, 'was not simply a website; it was a large, active community of pedophiles and (abuse material) enthusiasts. And it existed in part because of the Defendant's criminal acts.' Rosenstein stored so many illicit images that he needed to keep some on servers tied to his business operations. Another key figure, Matthew Garrell from Raleigh, North Carolina, was jailed for 20 years. Prosecutors revealed that Garrell had built an 'extremely complex and technologically sophisticated conspiracy,' complete with a predator's 'handbook' containing detailed child grooming instructions. Members of these dark web communities were often required to contribute abusive content, pay membership fees, or assist with site moderation to gain access. 'They were part of an online community of hundreds of thousands of people, with leadership roles, rules and a common dedicated purpose,' said Chris Delzotto, acting FBI deputy assistant director. 'Few people would have envisioned how (child abuse materials) would permeate the internet, the way it has today,' he added. The FBI has confirmed that the same leadership team operated several of the shuttered sites. Abbigail Beccaccio, an FBI unit chief, said, 'The leadership team that operated one of the sites also operated several of the others.' The scope of Operation Grayskull extended nationwide, with convicted individuals hailing from Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Texas, Washington, Arkansas, Michigan, and Oklahoma. The Department of Justice is hailing the takedown as a major victory in its ongoing fight against online child exploitation. 'Even for prosecutors, it is difficult to understand how pervasive this is,' Galeotti said. 'Because it happens on the dark web, people aren't aware of it. It's extremely troubling.'
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Thai and Cambodian leaders head to Malaysia for peace talks
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were set to hold talks in Malaysia on Monday to reach a ceasefire in their deadly border dispute, with the United States saying its officials would be assisting in the peace process. Thailand's government said it was attending talks arranged by Malaysia in its role as chair of the regional ASEAN bloc, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the talks were co-organised by the United States with the participation of China. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials were in Malaysia to assist peace efforts, after President Donald Trump had earlier said that he thought both leaders wanted to settle the conflict. 'We want this conflict to end as soon as possible,' Rubio said in statement released late on Sunday in the US and early Monday in Asia. 'State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts.' Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the killing in late May of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Hostilities broke out last Thursday and have escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade. The death toll has risen above 30, including more than 20 civilians, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had proposed ceasefire talks soon after the border dispute erupted into conflict on Thursday, and China and the United States also offered to assist in negotiations. Thailand had said it supported calls for a ceasefire in principle but wanted to negotiate bilaterally, while Cambodia had called for international involvement. Anwar said he expected to chair the negotiations after being asked by representatives of the two governments to try to find a peace settlement, state media agency Bernama reported. 'So, I'm discussing the parameters, the conditions, but what is important is (an) immediate ceasefire,' he said late on Sunday
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Rubio says U.S. officials are in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials were in Malaysia to assist peace efforts as Cambodia and Thailand were scheduled to begin talks there on Monday in hopes for a ceasefire. President Donald Trump and Mr. Rubio were engaged with their counterparts for each country and were monitoring the situation very closely, Mr. Rubio said in a statement released by the State Department late on Sunday (July 27, 2025) in the U.S. and early Monday in Asia. "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible," he said. "State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts." Why is it important The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were scheduled to attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on Monday (July 28, 2025), the Thai government said, as both sides accused each other of launching fresh artillery strikes across contested areas. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Hostilities resumed on Thursday (July 24, 2025) and, within just four days, escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors in more than a decade. The death toll has risen above 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas. Mr. Trump said on Sunday (July 27, 2025) he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting.
