US State Department warns of AI-driven impersonation attempts targeting Secretary Marco Rubio

The US State Department has issued a warning to American diplomats around the world about a series of impersonation attempts involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio, using artificial intelligence technology to mimic his identity, according to two senior officials and a diplomatic cable sent last week.

The July 3 cable, first reported by The Washington Post, detailed how an impostor posing as Rubio tried to contact at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator, and a governor via text messages, Signal app communications, and voice messages. The targeted individuals were not named in the cable, which was later shared with The Associated Press.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the incident, stating, “The department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter.” She declined to provide further details, citing security concerns and an ongoing investigation.

Officials described the impersonation attempts as unsophisticated and ultimately unsuccessful. However, they warned that the use of AI in such operations is growing more common and poses a significant risk to diplomatic and government communications. One official said it was “prudent” to alert foreign governments and all State Department personnel, given the increasing efforts by foreign actors to exploit digital vulnerabilities.

“There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign,” the cable emphasized, “but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised.”

This follows a similar incident in May involving Susie Wiles, chief of staff to President Donald Trump, in which AI-generated voice messages appeared to come from Wiles and were sent to elected officials and business leaders. In that case, the attacker may have accessed contacts from her personal phone, The Wall Street Journal reported.

This isn’t the first time Rubio has been targeted by deepfake technology. Earlier this year, a video circulated falsely showing him stating that Ukraine would be cut off from Elon Musk’s Starlink service—an assertion that was quickly debunked by Ukrainian authorities.

Experts say that deepfake technology is advancing rapidly, making it more difficult to detect impersonations. “The level of realism and quality is increasing,” said Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.”

In response to growing concerns about AI-driven deception, policymakers and researchers have called for stronger regulations, increased public awareness, and development of AI detection tools. Despite these efforts, the cat-and-mouse dynamic between technology developers and malicious actors continues to escalate.

The FBI has already issued public warnings about AI-powered scams impersonating government officials. The agency urges anyone who receives suspicious messages to report them and to remain cautious when verifying the identity of high-profile individuals.

The State Department's latest advisory reinforces how digital impersonation — once the domain of amateur hackers — is now being elevated to a geopolitical concern with serious implications for global diplomacy.

SR