Facepalm: AI fashions have gotten more and more proficient at producing deepfake audio and video, prompting specialists to warn in regards to the rising risk of misinformation and scams. US officers have additionally voiced nationwide safety considerations after an unidentified particular person used an AI-generated voice to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and make contact with a number of home and international authorities officers.
In accordance with a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters, an unidentified particular person left a collection of AI-generated voicemails for prime US politicians and diplomats on the encrypted messaging app Sign final month, posing as Senator Marco Rubio. The suspicious Sign account reportedly used the show identify “Marco.Rubio@state.gov” to seem official to unsuspecting recipients.
Whereas the identities of the recipients weren’t disclosed, sources advised the company that a minimum of three international ministers, a US governor, and a member of Congress had been focused. The cable additionally famous that different State Division officers had been impersonated by way of e mail, although it didn’t specify which people had been affected.
The cable added that the purpose was more likely to manipulate officers into revealing confidential data or granting entry to restricted techniques, although it stays unclear whether or not any of the focused authorities functionaries disclosed delicate materials. The message, despatched on July 3 to all US embassies and consulates worldwide, warned staff in regards to the rising risk of AI-powered impersonation.
State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce advised reporters that the administration is conscious of the incident and is actively monitoring the scenario. She emphasised that the division takes data safety severely and is taking extra steps to strengthen its cyber protection capabilities to forestall related incidents sooner or later.
Whereas investigators are working to determine the person or group behind the now-deactivated Sign account, the State Division is urging US diplomats to report any suspected impersonation makes an attempt to the Bureau of Diplomatic Safety. The general public is suggested to report such incidents to the FBI’s Web Crime Criticism Middle.
The FBI has lengthy investigated circumstances wherein “malicious actors” impersonate senior US officers utilizing AI-generated voice messages to acquire delicate data or cash. In Might, the company warned the general public not to reply to messages purporting to return from authorities officers until their authenticity will be clearly verified.
