The former Florida senator said he has been the target of impersonators before, with foreign dignitaries asking if he’d texted them within days of becoming secretary of state.
AI voice mimics Rubio to target US and foreign officials
A person used AI to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, targeting U.S. and foreign officials in a phishing scheme.
- Rubio said a senator alerted him about a voicemail message impersonating the secretary of state, which he reported to the FBI and diplomatic security.
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters somebody mimicking his voice through artificial intelligence represented a “real threat” that “could happen to anybody” but that is why he typically communicates with foreign leaders through official channels.
“It could happen to anybody, especially if you’re a public figure,” Rubio told reporters July 10 at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations conference in Malaysia. “It’s just a reality of this AI technology that’s going on and it’s a real threat.”
Rubio said he learned about the impersonation last week and immediately reported it to the FBI, diplomatic security and others. A senator had called Rubio to ask if he was trying to reach the person and provided a voicemail.
“It doesn’t really sound like me,” Rubio said.
According to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters on July 8, the imposter contacted three foreign ministers and two U.S. officials last month. In mid-June the imposter contacted the ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress via the Signal messaging app and left voicemails for at least two of them. In one instance, a text message was sent to invite the targeted person to communicate on Signal.
The Republican former senator from Florida said the impersonation was part of the “fake stuff” that has become routine with new technology.
“Within days of becoming secretary of State, I had foreign ministers calling the State Department, asking if I’d just texted them,” Rubio said. “Generally, I communicate with my counterparts around the world through official channels for a reason, that’s to avoid this.”
Rubio said anyone with AI software and a recording of someone’s voice would manage their own impersonation.
“I’m sure there are a lot of positive aspects to AI as well, but this ain’t one of them,” Rubio said.
