Marco Rubio rang foreign ministers – but it wasn't really him. It was an AI imposter
In mid-June, the person contacted the ministers, a US governor and a member of Congress via the Signal messaging app and left voicemails for at least two of them, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters.
In one instance, a text message was sent to invite the targeted person to communicate on Signal.
'The actor likely aimed to manipulate targeted individuals using AI-generated text and voice messages with the goal of gaining access to information or accounts,' the cable said.
The Washington Post first reported the attempt. The episode comes weeks after the administration faced a crisis when President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Mike Waltz created a group chat on Signal in which a journalist was accidentally added. Information about military strikes on Yemen was subsequently shared on the chat.
'There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,' it said.
The State Department cable, dated July 3, was sent to all diplomatic and consular posts and suggests that staff warn external partners about fake accounts and impersonations.
It did not reveal further details about the identities of the foreign ministers and US politicians contacted.
'The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently investigating the matter,' a senior State Department official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
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9 News
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