AI-generated Marco Rubio voice used to contact foreign ministers and officials

The news: An individual using artificial intelligence to impersonate US Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted at least three foreign ministers, a US governor and a member of Congress in mid-June through text, Signal and voicemail, according to a State Department cable first reported by The Washington Post.

The actor used a display name “Marco.Rubio@state.gov” and sent messages aiming to manipulate targeted individuals “with the goal of gaining access to information or accounts,” the cable dated 3 July says. Voicemails were left for at least two targets.

The context: Authorities do not know who is behind the string of impersonation attempts. The State Department confirmed it is “monitoring and addressing the matter” and advised staff to warn partners of fake accounts. The cable said there was “no direct cyber threat to the department” but noted that information could be exposed “if targeted individuals are compromised.”

A similar campaign in April was attributed to a Russia-linked hacker.