AI impersonation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio under investigation
Unknown actors used AI voice cloning technology to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio in messages to foreign diplomats and U.S. officials via Signal, exploiting his extensive public record of speeches and appearances. The State Department is investigating the impersonation effort, which was disclosed in a cable sent to State Department employees on July 3.
What happened
One or more unknown persons used artificial intelligence to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio in text and voice messages sent over the encrypted messaging app Signal to at least five people outside the State Department, including a governor, a member of Congress, and three foreign ministers.
Rubio's office sent a cable to State Department employees on July 3 alerting them to the impersonation efforts. The attackers were able to create convincing voice and text messages because Rubio's voice and mannerisms are widely available online from his extensive public appearances as a senator and current secretary of state.
Reported impact
The State Department stated it is investigating the incident and takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and improve its cybersecurity posture.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.