Kathmandu— British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently communicated with someone impersonating a senior US government official, believing they were exchanging messages with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The incident prompted concern within both the British and American governments regarding increasing threats from malicious actors utilizing artificial intelligence to mimic high-ranking officials. While the exchanged messages were reportedly insignificant, Burnham became suspicious and alerted authorities after a brief conversation.

AI Impersonation Concerns Rise

The incident involving Prime Minister Burnham is part of a growing trend of AI-powered impersonations targeting government and business leaders. The FBI launched an investigation last year into similar activity, identifying malicious actors using artificial intelligence to pose as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and contact senior Republicans and business officials.

The State Department also investigated an imposter who pretended to be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting three foreign ministers. These incidents highlight a rising concern over communications security, particularly during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Incident Details and Response

According to reports, Burnham exchanged “a few messages” with the individual before becoming suspicious and ceasing communication. The contents of those messages have not been publicly disclosed. A British government spokesperson declined to comment on the report, citing policy against discussing national security matters.

The British Embassy in Washington D.C. informed the White House about the incident, which confirmed that the Chief of Staff’s devices were not compromised.

Past Security Breaches

This is not the first time communications security has been breached within US government circles. A Pentagon report concluded last December that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth potentially endangered US soldiers by sharing classified information on a Signal group chat with journalists and other officials. The incident involved discussions regarding potential military strikes in Yemen, raising serious questions about secure communication protocols.

Authorities continue to investigate the use of AI for malicious impersonation, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and improved security measures.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.