AI Advertising Firm Doublespeed Hacked, Exposing Undisclosed Promotions

Doublespeed, an AI advertising startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), has reportedly been breached by a hacker. The company, which operates a 'phone farm' to manage hundreds of AI-generated social media accounts for product promotion, is now facing scrutiny. The breach has exposed the products being advertised by these AI-powered accounts, often without the legally required disclosure that they are promotional content. Furthermore, the hacker claims to have taken control of over 1,000 smartphones that are integral to Doublespeed's operations. The individual responsible for the hack, who wishes to remain anonymous due to fears of corporate retaliation, states they reported the vulnerability to Doublespeed on October 31. As of the current report, the hacker asserts continued access to the company's backend systems, including the critical phone farm infrastructure.