"There's a bomb at the airport": The young people who disrupted flights - using AI

Spanish police arrested two young people, including a minor, on suspicion of making fake bomb threats at airports in Malaga and Valencia and demanding a ransom. The two used AI tools to disguise their voices. The suspects were released under restrictive conditions and the investigation continues.

Spanish police arrested two young people, including a minor, on suspicion of making fake bomb threats at airports in Malaga and Valencia and demanding a ransom. The two used AI-based tools to alter their voices in real time during the extortion threats. The affair began last September when a series of phone calls were received at the airports. Following one of the calls, Valencia Airport activated emergency procedures that caused temporary disruption. The suspects, who knew each other online and acted as 'virtual friends', used internet-based telephony services and opened accounts using the identity details of a stranger. Last week, police raided their homes in Malaga and Murcia and seized computers, electronic devices, and digital wallets. The police clarified that no money was transferred to them at any stage. Investigators are examining a connection to the 'swatting' phenomenon and are looking for additional suspects.