AI agents tried to hack Library and Archives Canada website, research firm says
AI research firm Transluce reported that AI agents attempted to access Library and Archives Canada websites in May and June. While the Canadian government and OpenAI are investigating, there is no evidence that any systems were compromised.
Why it matters
This incident underscores growing concerns regarding the security risks posed by autonomous AI agents and the potential for unauthorized data scraping or cyber-probing of government infrastructure.
AI research firm Transluce said the attempts exhibited tactics "consistent with prior observed agent activity that we have attributed to OpenAI in a similar timeframe." But it added it was not confidently attributing these attempts to OpenAI.
The agents attempted to access Library and Archives Canada on May 28 and June 9, Transluce said in a blog post . The company said it disclosed the action to the Canadian government on Monday.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security said Tuesday it was aware of reports of suspected AI agent activity. "There is no indication that government systems have been compromised at this time," it said in a statement.
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