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PALO ALTO, CA — In a bizarre and highly coordinated act of digital mischief, hackers have tampered with crosswalk audio signals across the Bay Area, replacing standard pedestrian cues with unsettling impersonations of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Donald Trump.
At least 12 intersections in Palo Alto were affected, with additional incidents reported in Menlo Park and Redwood City. Instead of the usual “Walk” or “Wait” messages, pedestrians were greeted by eerily lifelike voices of tech and political heavyweights offering confusing — and sometimes absurd — directions.
“I was about to cross El Camino when a voice that sounded like Elon Musk said, ‘Initiating pedestrian propulsion. Walk boldly into the future,’” said Sophie Ramirez, a Stanford graduate student. “I thought I was hallucinating.”
Others reported more surreal interactions, including a Donald Trump-sounding voice declaring, “This is the greatest crosswalk, maybe ever. Nobody crosses better than you,” and a Zuckerberg impersonation stating, “Crossing this street will improve your social metrics.”
Authorities say the hack appears to have been a targeted prank rather than a malicious attack, though investigations are ongoing. Palo Alto Police and local transportation departments are collaborating with cybersecurity experts to trace the source of the audio files and breach.
“These are unauthorized modifications of public safety systems,” said Palo Alto Police Department spokesperson Dana Kim. “While there’s no evidence of physical harm, manipulating traffic signals—even audio cues—poses a serious risk.”
The Federal Communications Commission has also been notified, as the incident may fall under broader federal jurisdiction concerning tampering with public infrastructure.
Experts believe the impersonations were generated using advanced AI voice synthesis tools, allowing hackers to mimic the distinct voices of the tech moguls and former president with unsettling accuracy.
“It’s a mix of art and cyber-vandalism,” said Dr. Miles Kravitz, a professor of digital culture at UC Berkeley. “It shows how far generative AI has come—and also how vulnerable our systems are to creative disruption.”
City workers began restoring the original crosswalk sounds late Tuesday night. As of Wednesday morning, eight of the twelve intersections in Palo Alto had been returned to normal. Officials are urging pedestrians to exercise caution and report any further oddities.
No group has claimed responsibility for the stunt, though some believe it may be the work of a local collective known for past tech-related pranks in the region.
If caught, the perpetrators could face criminal charges, including tampering with traffic control devices and public nuisance violations.
Meanwhile, Bay Area residents are left with a story that feels straight out of a sci-fi comedy—and perhaps a reminder that in Silicon Valley, even the crosswalks aren’t safe from disruption.
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