Inside Job? Hackers Use Meta AI Support Bot To Target Barack Obama’s Instagram Account

Last Updated:June 02, 2026, 18:30 IST

Meta fixes flaw in its AI support chatbot after hackers took over Instagram accounts, including those linked to Barack Obama's White House team, Sephora and John Bentivegna.

Tech firm Meta has acknowledged a security flaw in its AI-powered support chatbot that allowed hackers to take control of Instagram accounts, including several high-profile profiles. The company said the flaw has now been fixed after it was brought to light by security researchers.

According to reports, accounts linked to former US President Barack Obama’s White House team, beauty retailer Sephora and US Space Force Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna were among those targeted. Social media users also reported similar account takeovers on Reddit and X, The Guardian reported.

How Hackers Took Over Instagram Accounts

Researchers and hacking groups circulated videos on Telegram demonstrating how the exploit worked. In one example, a hacker reportedly convinced Meta’s AI support assistant to connect a target’s account to a different email address. The chatbot then sent a verification code to that email and asked for the code through the chat. After the code was entered, the system reportedly provided an option to reset the account password.

One video showed a hacker using a virtual private network (VPN) to mimic the account owner’s location, potentially bypassing security checks, the report mentioned.

Meta said in a statement on Monday: “This issue has been resolved, and we are securing impacted accounts." The company has not disclosed the total number of affected users.

Fresh Questions Over AI Security Safeguards

The incident has renewed scrutiny over the use of artificial intelligence in sensitive security functions. Reports also indicated that compromised Instagram usernames were being offered for sale on Telegram.

Earlier this year, Meta expanded its AI support assistant across Facebook and Instagram, describing it as a tool that could “take action for you on a growing set of requests directly within Facebook and in the future, on Instagram". The feature was designed to handle tasks such as reporting scams, addressing impersonation and resetting passwords.

“The Meta AI support assistant is a major step in our work to deliver stronger support on our apps," the company said in a March announcement. Meta continues to invest heavily in AI, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg planning a $145 billion (£108 billion) expenditure on AI infrastructure this year.

About the Author

Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish...Read More

News world Inside Job? Hackers Use Meta AI Support Bot To Target Barack Obama’s Instagram Account

Read More