One button, hacked to sound like Zuckerberg, declared, “It’s understandable to feel uneasy or even invaded as we aggressively integrate AI into every aspect of your awareness. I want to reassure you that there’s no cause for concern, as there’s truly nothing you can do to change it.”
In a similar fashion, a button that imitated Musk said, “They say money can’t buy happiness, and I guess that’s true. God knows I’ve tried. But it can purchase a Cybertruck, and that’s pretty awesome, right?” The Musk voice continued with a poignant, “F—k, I’m so alone.”
The reasons behind the hacking of these buttons remain unclear, as does the identity of the perpetrators, although there are indications it may have been an act of hacktivism. Palo Alto Online was one of the first news outlets to cover the incident, referencing a Redwood City official who stated the city is “actively working to investigate and resolve the issue as swiftly as possible.” Reports suggest that the tampering may have occurred on Friday.
Across the United States, audio-enabled crosswalk buttons are commonly utilized to assist individuals with visual impairments or accessibility needs, providing custom audio messages that indicate when it is safe for pedestrians to cross streets. In a 2024 video, security researcher and physical penetration specialist Deviant Ollam discusses how these buttons can be exploited, often due to default passwords that remain unchanged.
