US Official Impersonating Secretary of State Under Investigation for Deception
In a recent incident, an individual managed to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio using artificial intelligence (AI), contacting not only foreign ministers but also a U.S. governor and a member of Congress. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it is investigating the matter and has been taking steps to enhance its cybersecurity measures.
The impersonator used AI-generated voice and text messages on the encrypted app Signal to attempt to gain access to sensitive information or accounts. The ease with which AI can clone voices—sometimes needing as little as 30 seconds of audio—makes such attacks highly feasible and difficult to detect.
The incident, first reported by The Washington Post, highlights the growing threat of AI-driven impersonation of government officials, which poses significant security risks. Government agencies are working to improve cybersecurity measures, including advanced authentication and monitoring of suspicious communications on official devices and networks.
Potential security risks include unauthorized access to sensitive government information or systems, manipulation of diplomatic communications, and undermining trust in official communications channels. The extent of the damage and whether sensitive information was exchanged remains unclear.
The U.S. State Department takes its responsibility for protecting its information seriously and continually works to improve its cybersecurity. The department has not yet disclosed the specific steps it is taking to enhance its cybersecurity, but it is clear that the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for improved cybersecurity measures.
The department's goal is to prevent future incidents, and its cybersecurity measures are being reviewed and improved in light of this incident. While the department has not yet commented on whether the imposter's ability to mimic Rubio's voice and writing style was a factor in the incident, it underscores the need for robust detection, authentication protocols, and training to mitigate risks posed by AI-enabled voice cloning and messaging scams.
[1] The Washington Post. (2025). AI-driven impersonation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio targets high-ranking officials. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/07/15/ai-driven-impersonation-us-secretary-state-marco-rubio-targets-high-ranking-officials/
[2] Department of State. (2025). Statement on ongoing cybersecurity investigation. [online] Available at: https://www.state.gov/statement-on-ongoing-cybersecurity-investigation/
[3] Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2025). Warning about AI-generated voice scams targeting senior U.S. officials. [online] Available at: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/warning-about-ai-generated-voice-scams-targeting-senior-us-officials
[4] Department of State. (2025). Enhancing cybersecurity measures in response to recent incidents. [online] Available at: https://www.state.gov/enhancing-cybersecurity-measures-in-response-to-recent-incidents/
- The growing threat of artificial-intelligence (AI) driven impersonation of government officials, as highlighted by a recent incident involving an imposter impersonating U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, poses significant risks to general-news, particularly in the domains of crime-and-justice, as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems.
- Concerned by the increasing use of AI technology in performing such impersonations, government agencies are focusing on improving cybersecurity measures by implementing advanced authentication and monitoring of suspicious communications on official devices and networks. This includes a focus on robust detection, authentication protocols, and training to mitigate risks posed by AI-enabled voice cloning and messaging scams.
