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Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
U.S. probes AI deepfake targeting Rubio and global diplomats
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in June, exploiting deepfake voice technology to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a diplomatic cable reviewed by Reuters. In mid-June, the perpetrator contacted three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress via the Signal messaging app, leaving AI-generated voicemails for at least two of them. In at least one case, a text invitation was also sent asking the recipient to switch to Signal for further communication. "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 was the first to report the attempted impersonation. A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed: "The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently investigating the matter." "The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents," the official added. The cable, dated July 3, was sent to all U.S. diplomatic and consular posts, and staff were advised to warn external partners about the rise of impersonation campaigns and fake digital identities. "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," the cable warned. While the cable did not name a perpetrator, it referenced a similar incident from April involving a Russia-linked hacker. That earlier phishing campaign targeted think tanks, Eastern European activists, dissidents, and former State Department officials. In that case, the attacker mimicked a "@ email address and used official-looking logos from the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology. "The actor demonstrated extensive knowledge of the department's naming conventions and internal documentation," the cable noted. That campaign involved messages sent to private Gmail accounts, with industry partners later attributing it to a cyber actor affiliated with the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. The latest incident also follows a Wall Street Journal report revealing that U.S. federal authorities are investigating a separate attempt to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Rubio impersonator used AI to contact US, foreign officials
"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, per Reuters. The cable pointed to a separate incident in April that was attributed to a Russia-linked hacker who conducted a spear phishing campaign targeting think tanks, Eastern European activists and dissidents and former State Department officials. In a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday, July 8, the State Department said it is investigating the incident. "The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents," the statement, attributed to a senior State Department official, said. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce echoed this sentiment at a July 8 press briefing. The State Department did not reveal further details about the identities of the foreign ministers and U.S. politicians contacted. Neither the cable nor the department indicated a suspected perpetrator. Trump trade war: Copper imports hit with tariffs, pharmaceuticals are next How did the impersonator reach officials? The impersonator created a Signal account using the display name " which is not Rubio's State Department email, according to the Washington Post. In mid-June, the person contacted the ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress via the Signal messaging app. Voicemails were left in two instances, and a text message in a third instance invited the targeted person to communicate on Signal. The Washington Post reported that other State Department personnel were impersonated by email. The administration was previously embroiled in scandal for the use of Signal to share detailed secret plans for a U.S. strike on Iran-backed militants in Yemen via a group chat consisting of top Trump administration officials that accidentally included The Atlantic magazine editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. That group included users whose names matched Trump's top officials, including Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Brian McCormack, a member of the National Security Council. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that federal authorities were investigating an attempt to impersonate Wiles. "The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated," a White House spokeswoman told the outlet at the time. Reuters contributed to this story.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Rubio impersonator uses AI to contact foreign ministers
An individual using an artificially generated voice to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted three foreign ministers and two US officials pretending to be the top US diplomat, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters on Tuesday. 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, the cable said. 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 where 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 suggested 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. "The dtakes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents," the official added. In mid-May, the FBI said malicious actors were using text messages and AI-generated voice messages to impersonate senior US officials in a scheme to gain access to the personal accounts of state and federal government officials. The FBI did not comment. Neither the cable nor the US officials pointed to a suspected perpetrator, but the cable made reference to a second effort in April that was attributed to a Russia-linked hacker who conducted a phishing campaign targeting think tanks, Eastern European activists and dissidents and former State Department officials. In that attempt, the perpetrator copied a fake "@ email address on the messages as well as logos and branding used by State's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, it said. In that campaign, the person posed as a State Department official in messages sent to private Gmail accounts.
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Fake' Marco Rubio uses AI voice and Signal app to target foreign ministers, US Officials
In a troubling escalation of deepfake technology misuse, an individual impersonating US Secretary of State Marco Rubio used AI-generated voice messages and a fake Signal account to contact foreign leaders and a sitting member of Congress, according to a State Department cable dated 3 July, seen by Bloomberg News. The cable details how the impersonator contacted at least five individuals, including three foreign ministers, a US governor, and a US member of Congress, using a forged Signal profile created in mid-June. '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 State Department cable noted. This campaign is part of a wider pattern of impersonation efforts dating back to April, which involved threat actors posing as senior US officials. In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that authorities were investigating a separate case where someone posed as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, contacting senators, governors, and senior business executives. According to an FBI memo dated 15 May, the impersonators used AI-generated voice and text messages to 'establish rapport before gaining access to personal accounts.' While the US State Department has not yet issued a formal comment, the impersonation attempt involving Rubio was first reported by The Washington Post. Experts believe that Signal, a secure messaging app, is being exploited due to its popularity among high-level officials. In March, controversy erupted after The Atlantic revealed that its editor-in-chief had been added to a Signal group chat where US officials discussed classified military plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen. That compromised chat reportedly included high-ranking figures such as Marco Rubio, Susie Wiles, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, raising concerns over internal communication security. The 3 July cable also flagged a separate ongoing campaign, believed to be orchestrated by a Russia-linked actor, targeting Gmail accounts of journalists, activists, and dissidents across Europe. 'The actor demonstrated extensive knowledge of the Department's naming conventions and internal documentation,' the cable said. Previous impersonation attempts were also cited, including a June 2022 case where someone created a WhatsApp account in the name of then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which was used to message South American leaders. A 2023 campaign involved what officials believe was a 'likely Russian state-sponsored cyber threat actor' that posed as the State Department to target non-proliferation organisations.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Rubio imposter used AI to message high-level officials, reports say
WASHINGTON - An imposter posing as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent AI-generated voice and text messages to high-level officials and foreign ministers, reports said Tuesday, the latest American official to be targeted by impersonators. A cable from the top US diplomat's office said the unidentified culprit was likely seeking to manipulate powerful officials "with the goal of gaining access to information or accounts," the Washington Post and other US media reported. The imposter contacted at least three foreign ministers, a US state governor, and a member of Congress using both text messaging and the encrypted messaging app Signal, according to the cable dated July 3. Starting in mid-June, the imposter created a Signal account using the display name " to contact the unsuspecting officials, it added. "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," said the cable. The contents of the messages were unclear. Responding to an AFP request for comment, the State Department said it was aware of the incident and was "currently investigating the matter." "The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents," said a senior State Department official. The impersonation of Rubio was one of "two distinct campaigns" being probed in which threat actors impersonate State Department personnel via email and messaging apps, the cable said. The second campaign began in April and involves a "Russia-linked cyber actor" who conducted a phishing campaign targeting personal Gmail accounts associated with think tank scholars, Eastern Europe-based activists and dissidents, journalists, and former officials, it said. The cyber actor posed as a "fictitious" State Department official and sought to tap into the contents of the users' Gmail accounts, added the cable. - 'Malicious actors' - The hoaxes follow an FBI warning that since April cyber actors have impersonated senior US officials to target their contacts, including current and former federal or state government officials. "The malicious actors have sent text messages and AI-generated voice messages -- techniques known as smishing and vishing, respectively -- that claim to come from a senior US official in an effort to establish rapport before gaining access to personal accounts," the FBI said in May. In May, President Donald Trump said an impersonator breached the phone of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. US senators, governors and business executives received text messages and phone calls from someone claiming to be Wiles, the Wall Street Journal reported. The breach prompted a White House and FBI investigation, but Trump played down the threat, saying Wiles "can handle it." Senior Trump administration officials have courted criticism for using Signal and other unofficial channels for government work. In March, then-national security advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal chat group discussing US strikes in Yemen. The episode led to Waltz's ouster. With proliferating AI voice cloning tools -- which are cheap, easy to use and hard to trace -– disinformation researchers fret the impact of audio deepfakes to impersonate or smear celebrities and politicians. Last year, a robocall impersonating then-president Joe Biden stoked public alarm about such deepfakes. The robocall urged New Hampshire residents not to cast ballots in a Democratic primary, prompting authorities to launch a probe into possible voter suppression and triggering demands from campaigners for stricter guardrails around generative AI tools.
