The U.S. State Department recently alerted its diplomats about attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This warning came after officials discovered someone pretending to be Rubio reached out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator, and a governor. The attempts were made through text messages, the Signal app, and voicemail.
The department shared a cable with all U.S. embassies and consulates on July 3, warning about these scams. While the targets of the messages were kept confidential, the State Department is actively monitoring the situation and working to prevent further incidents. A spokesperson emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting its information and improving cybersecurity but declined to provide more details, citing an ongoing investigation.
This is not the first time high-profile U.S. officials have been targeted by impersonators using AI. In May, a similar case involved Susi Wiles, former chief of staff to President Donald Trump. The FBI has also raised concerns about a broader campaign where fake messages and calls impersonate senior government officials. These messages aim to trick government contacts and associates.
Officials noted that the recent Rubio impersonations were not very sophisticated and did not succeed. Still, the State Department felt it was important to alert employees and foreign governments, especially as threats to information security grow. The cable pointed out there is no direct cyberattack, but sensitive information could be exposed if individuals fall for such scams.
Furthermore, Rubio has been the subject of AI misuse before. Earlier this year, a fake video circulated showing him making false claims about cutting off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink service. Ukraine quickly debunked that video.
Experts say the misuse of AI to deceive is likely to increase as the technology improves. Deepfake videos and AI-generated voices are becoming so realistic that spotting fakes is getting harder. Researchers describe the situation as a back-and-forth battle between those creating fake content and those building tools to detect it.
The rise in these sophisticated scams highlights the need for caution and better awareness among officials and the public. Tech companies are developing apps to spot deepfakes, but the arms race between fake-makers and defenders continues. For now, the State Department’s warning serves as an important reminder to stay vigilant against these new tricks.