State Department Investigates AI Impersonation of Marco Rubio

The United States Department of State is investigating an artificial intelligence-driven impersonation campaign that targeted Secretary of State Marco Rubio in mid-June 2025. An unidentified actor used deepfake voice technology and AI-generated text to mimic Rubio's tone and writing style, contacting at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress.

The perpetrator used the encrypted messaging app Signal, creating an account with the fraudulent display name "marco.rubio@state.gov" to send messages and leave voicemails. A diplomatic cable issued on July 3 warned embassies and consulates that the actor likely sought to manipulate targets into granting access to private accounts or sensitive information. While the department described the hoaxes as "not very sophisticated" and unsuccessful, officials noted that compromised third parties could still expose sensitive data.

This incident follows a pattern of AI-driven threats, including a May campaign targeting White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and an April phishing operation attributed to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. The latter targeted think tanks and dissidents using fake government email addresses. Some reports also linked separate sophisticated operations to the Russia-linked hacking group APT29.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is leading the internal response. In the wake of the incident, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have urged organizations to implement advanced detection tools and physical security keys to counter the rising threat of cloned voices and social engineering.