A new incident reveals the growing threat of deepfake technologies, after an unknown person managed to imitate the voice of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with impressive accuracy, using artificial intelligence, in order to deceive top government officials. The case, which highlights security gaps in high-level digital communications, has caused great concern at the State Department.
According to a revealing report by the Washington Post , the perpetrator used the Signal app —known for its end-to-end encryption—to send voice messages and SMS to at least five people outside the State Department (three Secretaries of State of other countries, an American governor, and a member of Congress).
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The scammer didn’t just stop at the audio scam, he also created a Signal account called “Marco.Rubio@state.gov” — a fake address that looked like an official government ID. Through it, he sent messages and invitations to communicate, causing confusion and potentially extracting sensitive information. A U.S. official said the attacker exploited advanced AI software to accurately replicate Marco Rubio.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement, confirming a thorough investigation and promising to strengthen digital security measures to prevent similar attacks in the future. The incident highlights the dangers of the uncontrolled use of artificial intelligence, especially when combined with communication applications used even by high-ranking officials.
The Signalgate scandal and the inadequacy of "secure" apps
The attack follows another serious incident, known as “Signalgate,” in which a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat of senior military and political figures in the Trump administration. The group chat, which also included Marco Rubio, included real-time revelations about military operations in Yemen by then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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The indiscretion escalated when another Signal conversation—this time involving Hegseth’s family and personal lawyer—shared additional confidential details. The case led to a stormy development, with former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz being removed from his post and Marco Rubio taking over on an interim basis. Waltz, who had mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to the conversation, is expected to appear before the Senate for confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Experts' warnings and new cyber threats
Despite the fact that Signal offers strong encryption, cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned about the dangers of using such apps to handle non-public information . The Department of Defense, in fact, has already issued an official ban on the use of apps like Signal , WhatsApp, and iMessage in government chats from 2023 , highlighting the need for tighter security in digital communication networks.
The new Marco Rubio incident is not an isolated one. Last May, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was also targeted by a deepfake attack after her phone was compromised. The attacker reportedly sent messages and calls to her high-ranking contacts.
See also: FBI: American officials targeted by voice deepfakes
Artificial intelligence and national security: the fine line
The above incidents reinforce concerns about the use of AI for impersonation fraud, with the potential for serious diplomatic or even military consequences. Technology is evolving faster than regulations and security protocols, making it imperative to take action at the national and international levels.
The discussion is now not only about the protection of privacy, but also about the protection of the democratic process, confidential information and, ultimately, national security itself.
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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