Latest news with #Alyssia
Canada News.Net
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
UK-based Iranians alarmed by AI voice answering phones in Tehran
DUBAI, U.A.E.: British Iranians living in the U.K. are taken aback when they try to reach their families in Tehran on the phone and are met with a robotic voice instead. The voice, struggling with English, introduces itself as Alyssia and seems more confused than helpful. This disconcerting encounter has become increasingly prevalent among Iranians abroad, especially following the recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Ellie, a British-Iranian living in the U.K., is one of nine expatriates who shared their encounters with similar robotic voices. They recounted their experiences to The Associated Press while opting to remain anonymous due to safety concerns for their families still in Iran. Experts who reviewed recordings of these calls speculate that they may stem from low-tech artificial intelligence, chatbots, or pre-recorded messages redirecting calls from outside the country. While it remains ambiguous who is responsible for this phenomenon, four out of five experts posited that it likely originated from the Iranian government, while the remaining expert suggested the involvement of Israeli authorities. The eerie calls come at a time when tensions in the region have escalated, particularly as Iran faces military strikes and has retaliated with missile attacks, all against a backdrop of widespread internet blackouts. These restrictions hinder ordinary Iranians from accessing outside information, exacerbating the anxiety for those trying to maintain contact with their loved ones. For Ellie, this situation is particularly dire; her mother, who suffers from diabetes, is running low on insulin while remaining trapped on the outskirts of Tehran. Ellie feels a growing sense of urgency to communicate her desire for her mother to evacuate, but the barriers to communication frustrate her efforts. Among the testimonials collected, one 30-year-old woman living in New York labeled the experience "psychological warfare." She described the fear of anticipating a familiar voice only to be confronted with an AI-generated one. Such encounters have left many feeling unsettled and fearful, exemplified by a U.K. woman who received an automated voice message that offered platitudes instead of the guidance she sought from her mother. Curiously, not every Iranian abroad is experiencing these robotic messages; some report endless ringing without any response. Colin Crowell, a former Twitter executive, indicated that Iranian phone companies might be diverting calls to a default message system, preventing successful communication. Amir Rashidi, a U.S.-based cybersecurity expert, suggested that these recorded messages could be a governmental tactic to counter perceived external threats, yet acknowledged the lack of concrete evidence supporting this theory. The Iranian government's history of controlling communication during crises adds another layer of concern. Mehdi Yahyanejad, an internet freedom advocate, noted that while hacking the communication network is plausible, it's unlikely given the Iranian authorities' existing surveillance capabilities. Amid the chaos, Ellie managed to find a channel to communicate with her mother, relying on a connection through someone on the Iran-Turkey border. This workaround allows her to relay urgent messages, including warnings about the invasive robotic voice that has been answering her mother's calls. Meanwhile, others continue to face dire situations, as evidenced by a woman in the U.K. seeking her mother-in-law, who has recently been hospitalized amidst the ongoing violence. Instead of receiving supportive messages, she is met with the same disconcerting recorded phrases designed to project a false sense of calm, leaving her with a profound sense of helplessness and despair.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Life is full of unexpected surprises': The mystery of Iran's robotic voice calls amid blackout
As Iran reels from escalating conflict and sweeping internet restrictions, a new and deeply unsettling phenomenon has gripped the Iranian diaspora : calls to loved ones inside the country are being intercepted by robotic, pre-recorded voice messages. This bizarre development, first widely reported after a nationwide internet blackout, has left families anxious, experts puzzled, and the world asking—who is really behind the voice on the line? 'Life is full of unexpected surprises, and while some of these can bring joy, others may present challenges.' For Iranians and their families, the greatest challenge now is simply being heard. A disturbing new reality for Iranians abroad Since Wednesday, Iranians living in the UK, U.S., and across Europe have described a surreal experience: dialing family members' mobile numbers in Iran, only to be greeted by a mechanical voice. The message, sometimes in English and sometimes in Farsi , ranges from eerily philosophical to outright nonsensical. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Money Should You Have Before Hiring a Financial Advisor? SmartAsset Learn More Undo It urges the listener to 'close your eyes and imagine a peaceful place'. Other callers have encountered a more stilted, AI-generated voice with not so perfect English being heard speaking: 'Alo? Alo? Who is calling? I can't heard you. Who you want to speak with? I'm Alyssia. Do you remember me? I think I don't know who are you'. Live Events For many, the experience is not just unsettling—it's terrifying. 'Calling your mom and expecting to hear her voice and hearing an AI voice is one of the scariest things I've ever experienced,' said a 30-year-old woman in New York. Who is behind the voice? The origins and purpose of the robotic messages remain shrouded in mystery. Five telecommunications and cybersecurity experts who reviewed recordings for AP offered several theories: Government Control: Four out of five experts believe the Iranian government is likely responsible, using the messages as a tool to restrict, monitor, or confuse communications during a period of heightened security concerns. Iranian cybersecurity specialists suggest the diversions may also serve to prevent hacking attempts or sow confusion among the population. Foreign Interference: One expert posited that Israel or another foreign actor could be behind the calls, as a form of psychological warfare . Technical Explanation: Alp Toker , director of NetBlocks, explained that during internet outages, calls may be redirected to a default gateway message. The content, he noted, appears hastily generated using text-to-speech or AI, and is likely a standard fallback when calls cannot be completed. Notably, neither the Iranian nor Israeli governments have commented on the phenomenon, and the true source remains unconfirmed. The human toll: isolation and helplessness The timing of these messages is critical. They began as Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting retaliatory missile and drone strikes from Iran. In response, the Iranian government imposed a sweeping internet blackout, cutting off WhatsApp and other messaging services. With digital communication down, families turned to direct phone calls—only to find this new barrier. For many, the inability to reach family is more than an inconvenience. Ellie, a British-Iranian, described her desperation to contact her diabetic mother in Tehran, who was running low on insulin and trapped on the city's outskirts. 'I don't know why they're doing this,' she said, her voice breaking. As of Saturday, NetBlocks reported that international internet access was partially restored in some regions after 62 hours of severe disruption. Yet, overall connectivity remains below normal, and many Iranians—both inside and outside the country—are still struggling to reconnect with family and access independent information.
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Close your eyes and…': Robotic voices answer calls to Iran as families abroad struggle to reach loved ones
When Ellie, a British-Iranian living in the United Kingdom, tried to call her mother in Tehran, she heard a robotic voice instead. The voice said: 'Alo? Alo? Who is calling?' It then added, 'I can't heard you. Who you want to speak with? I'm Alyssia. Do you remember me? I think I don't know who are you.' Ellie, 44, is one of several Iranians living abroad who have heard strange, robotic voices when trying to call family in Iran since Israeli airstrikes began over a week ago, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The callers spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity or using only first names, as they fear putting their families in danger. Experts who listened to recordings shared with AP suggested the messages might be pre-recorded or made by simple artificial intelligence. Calls from abroad could be getting diverted. Four experts believed Iran's government was behind the messages, while one thought Israel was responsible. The strange messages have unsettled Iranians trying to reach their families. Israel's attacks have targeted military and nuclear sites, while Iran has fired missiles and drones in return. The Iranian government has also imposed a large internet blackout, saying it is needed for security. 'I don't know why they're doing this,' Ellie told AP. Her mother, who lives outside Tehran and has diabetes, is low on insulin. Ellie wants her mother to leave the city but cannot reach her directly. A woman in New York described it as 'psychological warfare.' She told AP: 'Calling your mum and hearing an AI voice is one of the most scary things I've ever experienced.' Some messages are even stranger. A woman in the UK shared with AP a recording where a voice said, 'Thank you for taking the time to listen. Life is full of unexpected surprises. These can bring joy or challenge us.' Others said their calls just rang and rang with no answer. Colin Crowell, a former Twitter executive, said it looked like Iranian phone companies were diverting calls to default systems. Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity expert in the US, said the messages match government tactics to control communications. 'It would be hard for anybody else to hack,' added Mehdi Yahyanejad, an internet freedom activist. He said Israel would have little reason to do this. Some Iranians abroad have found ways to contact relatives. Ellie managed by using someone near the Iran-Turkey border who called her mother on an Iranian phone and held it next to a Turkish phone so Ellie could listen in. 'The last time we spoke to her, we told her about the AI voice,' Ellie said. 'She was shocked. She said her phone hasn't rung at all.' Others, like M. in the UK, feel helpless. When she calls her mother-in-law in Tehran, she hears a message saying, 'Close your eyes and picture yourself in a place that brings you peace and happiness.' 'The only feeling it gives me is helplessness,' she told AP.
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Business Standard
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
A woman tried to call her mom in Iran; a robotic voice answered the phone
When Ellie, a British-Iranian living in the United Kingdom, tried to call her mother in Tehran, a robotic female voice answered instead. 'Alo? Alo?' the voice said, then asked in English: 'Who is calling?' A few seconds passed. 'I can't heard you,' the voice continued, its English imperfect. 'Who you want to speak with? I'm Alyssia. Do you remember me? I think I don't know who are you.' Ellie, 44, is one of nine Iranians living abroad — including in the UK and US — who said they have gotten strange, robotic voices when they attempted to call their loved ones in Iran since Israel launched airstrikes on the country a week ago. They told their stories to The Associated Press on the condition they remain anonymous or that only their first names or initials be used out of fear of endangering their families. It remains unclear who is behind the operation, though four of the experts believed it was likely to be the Iranian government while the fifth saw Israel as more likely. The messages are deeply eerie and disconcerting for Iranians in the diaspora struggling to contact their families as Israel's offensive targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites pounds Tehran and other cities. Iran has retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones, and the government has imposed a widespread internet blackout it says is to protect the country. That has blocked average Iranians from getting information from the outside world, and their relatives from being able to reach them. 'I don't know why they're doing this,' said Ellie, whose mother is diabetic, low on insulin and trapped on the outskirts of Tehran. She wants her mother to evacuate the city but cannot communicate that to her. Some of the messages are bizarre Most of the voices speak in English, though at least one spoke Farsi. If the caller tries to talk to it, the voice just continues with its message. A 30-year-old women living in New York, who heard the same message Ellie did, called it 'psychological warfare.' 'Calling your mom and expecting to hear her voice and hearing an AI voice is one of the most scary things I've ever experienced,' she said. 'I can feel it in my body.' And the messages can be bizarre. One woman living in the UK desperately called her mom and instead got a voice offering platitudes. 'Thank you for taking the time to listen,' it said, in a recording that she shared with the AP. 'Today, I'd like to share some thoughts with you and share a few things that might resonate in our daily lives. Life is full of unexpected surprises, and these surprises can sometimes bring joy while at other times they challenge us.' Not all Iranians abroad encounter the robotic voice. Some said when they try to call family, the phone just rings and rings. It's not clear who is behind this — or what the goal is Colin Crowell, a former vice president for Twitter's global policy, said it appeared that Iranian phone companies were diverting the calls to a default message system that does not allow calls to be completed. Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity expert based in the US, agreed and said the recordings appeared to be a government measure to thwart hackers, though there was no hard evidence. He said that in the first two days of Israel's campaign, mass voice and text messages were sent to Iranian phones urging the public to gear up for 'emergency conditions.' They aimed to spread panic — similar to mass calls that government opponents made into Iran during the war with Iraq in the 1980s. The voice messages trying to calm people 'fit the pattern of the Iranian government and how in the past it handled emergency situations,' said Rashidi, the director of Texas-based Miaan, a group that reports on digital rights in the Middle East. Mobile phones and landlines ultimately are overseen by Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. But the country's intelligence services have long been believed to be monitoring conversations. 'It would be hard for anybody else to hack. Of course, it is possible it is Israeli. But I don't think they have an incentive to do this,' said Mehdi Yahyanejad, a tech entrepreneur and internet freedom activist. Marwa Fatafta, Berlin-based policy and advocacy director for digital rights group Access Now, suggested it could be 'a form of psychological warfare by the Israelis.' She said it fits a past pattern by Israel of using extensive direct messaging to Lebanese and Palestinians during campaigns in Gaza and against Hezbollah. The messages, she said, appear aimed at 'tormenting' already anxious Iranians abroad. Trying new ways to contact relatives Ellie is one of a lucky few who found a way to reach relatives since the blackout. She knows someone who lives on the Iran-Turkey border and has two phones — one with a Turkish SIM card and one with an Iranian SIM. He calls Ellie's mother with the Iranian phone — since people inside the country are still able to call one another — and presses it to the Turkish phone, where Ellie's on the line. The two are able to speak. 'The last time we spoke to her, we told her about the AI voice that is answering all her calls,' said Ellie. 'She was shocked. She said her phone hasn't rung at all.' Elon Musk said he has activated his satellite internet provider Starlink in Iran, where a small number of people are believed to have the system, even though it is illegal. Authorities are urging the public to turn in neighbors with the devices as part of an ongoing spy hunt. Others have illegal satellite dishes, granting them access to international news. The messages are making relatives feel helpless M, a woman in the UK, has been trying to reach her mother-in-law, who is immobile and lives in Tehran's northeast, which has been pummeled by Israeli bombardment throughout the week. When she last spoke to her family in Iran, they were mulling whether she should evacuate from the city. Then the blackout was imposed, and they lost contact. Since then she has heard through a relative that the woman was in the ICU with respiratory problems. When she calls, she gets the same bizarre message as the woman in the UK, a lengthy mantra. 'Close your eyes and picture yourself in a place that brings you peace and happiness,' it says. 'Maybe you are walking through a serene forest, listening to the rustle of leaves and birds chirping. Or you're by the seashore, hearing the calming sound of waves crashing on the sand.' The only feeling the message does instill in her, she said, is 'helplessness.'
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A woman tried to call her mom in Iran. A robotic voice answered the phone
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — When Ellie, a British-Iranian living in the United Kingdom, tried to call her mother in Tehran, a robotic female voice answered instead. 'Alo? Alo?' the voice said, then asked in English: 'Who is calling?' A few seconds passed. 'I can't heard you,' the voice continued, its English imperfect. 'Who you want to speak with? I'm Alyssia. Do you remember me? I think I don't know who are you.' Ellie, 44, is one of nine Iranians living abroad — including in the U.K and U.S. — who said they have gotten strange, robotic voices when they attempted to call their loved ones in Iran since Israel launched airstrikes on the country a week ago. They told their stories to The Associated Press on the condition they remain anonymous or that only their first names or initials be used out of fear of endangering their families. Five experts with whom the AP shared recordings said it could be low-tech artificial intelligence, a chatbot or a pre-recorded message to which calls from abroad were diverted. It remains unclear who is behind the operation, though four of the experts believed it was likely to be the Iranian government while the fifth saw Israel as more likely. The messages are deeply eerie and disconcerting for Iranians in the diaspora struggling to contact their families as Israel's offensive targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites pounds Tehran and other cities. Iran has retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones, and the government has imposed a widespread internet blackout it says is to protect the country. That has blocked average Iranians from getting information from the outside world, and their relatives from being able to reach them. 'I don't know why they're doing this,' said Ellie, whose mother is diabetic, low on insulin and trapped on the outskirts of Tehran. She wants her mother to evacuate the city but cannot communicate that to her. A request for comment sent to the Iranian mission to the U.N. was not immediately answered. Some of the messages are bizarre Most of the voices speak in English, though at least one spoke Farsi. If the caller tries to talk to it, the voice just continues with its message. A 30-year-old women living in New York, who heard the same message Ellie did, called it 'psychological warfare.' 'Calling your mom and expecting to hear her voice and hearing an AI voice is one of the most scary things I've ever experienced,' she said. 'I can feel it in my body.' And the messages can be bizarre. One woman living in the U.K. desperately called her mom and instead got a voice offering platitudes. 'Thank you for taking the time to listen,' it said, in a recording that she shared with the AP. 'Today, I'd like to share some thoughts with you and share a few things that might resonate in our daily lives. Life is full of unexpected surprises, and these surprises can sometimes bring joy while at other times they challenge us.' Not all Iranians abroad encounter the robotic voice. Some said when they try to call family, the phone just rings and rings. It's not clear who is behind this — or what the goal is Colin Crowell, a former vice president for Twitter's global policy, said it appeared that Iranian phone companies were diverting the calls to a default message system that does not allow calls to be completed. Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity expert based in the U.S., agreed and said the recordings appeared to be a government measure to thwart hackers, though there was no hard evidence. He said that in the first two days of Israel's campaign, mass voice and text messages were sent to Iranian phones urging the public to gear up for 'emergency conditions.' They aimed to spread panic — similar to mass calls that government opponents made into Iran during the war with Iraq in the 1980s. The voice messages trying to calm people 'fit the pattern of the Iranian government and how in the past it handled emergency situations,' said Rashidi, the director of Texas-based Miaan, a group that reports on digital rights in the Middle East. Mobile phones and landlines ultimately are overseen by Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. But the country's intelligence services have long been believed to be monitoring conversations. 'It would be hard for anybody else to hack. Of course, it is possible it is Israeli. But I don't think they have an incentive to do this,' said Mehdi Yahyanejad, a tech entrepreneur and internet freedom activist. Marwa Fatafta, Berlin-based policy and advocacy director for digital rights group Access Now, suggested it could be 'a form of psychological warfare by the Israelis.' She said it fits a past pattern by Israel of using extensive direct messaging to Lebanese and Palestinians during campaigns in Gaza and against Hezbollah. The messages, she said, appear aimed at 'tormenting' already anxious Iranians abroad. When contacted with requests for comment, the Israeli military declined and the prime minister's office did not respond. Trying new ways to contact relatives Ellie is one of a lucky few who found a way to reach relatives since the blackout. She knows someone who lives on the Iran-Turkey border and has two phones — one with a Turkish SIM card and one with an Iranian SIM. He calls Ellie's mother with the Iranian phone — since people inside the country are still able to call one another — and presses it to the Turkish phone, where Ellie's on the line. The two are able to speak. 'The last time we spoke to her, we told her about the AI voice that is answering all her calls,' said Ellie. 'She was shocked. She said her phone hasn't rung at all.' Elon Musk said he has activated his satellite internet provider Starlink in Iran, where a small number of people are believed to have the system, even though it is illegal. Authorities are urging the public to turn in neighbors with the devices as part of an ongoing spy hunt. Others have illegal satellite dishes, granting them access to international news. The messages are making relatives feel helpless M., a woman in the U.K., has been trying to reach her mother-in-law, who is immobile and lives in Tehran's northeast, which has been pummeled by Israeli bombardment throughout the week. When she last spoke to her family in Iran, they were mulling whether she should evacuate from the city. Then the blackout was imposed, and they lost contact. Since then she has heard through a relative that the woman was in the ICU with respiratory problems. When she calls, she gets the same bizarre message as the woman in the U.K., a lengthy mantra. 'Close your eyes and picture yourself in a place that brings you peace and happiness,' it says. 'Maybe you are walking through a serene forest, listening to the rustle of leaves and birds chirping. Or you're by the seashore, hearing the calming sound of waves crashing on the sand.' The only feeling the message does instill in her, she said, is 'helplessness.' ___ El Deeb reported from Beirut
