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Hacker breaches A16Z-backed AI startup Doublespeed, attempts to post memes calling VC firm 'antichrist'

Hacker breaches A16Z-backed AI startup Doublespeed, attempts to post memes calling VC firm 'antichrist' Image: Primary
A hacker compromised backend systems at Doublespeed, an Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup that operates phone farms to create AI-generated social media accounts, attempting to post memes labeling the venture capital firm as "the antichrist." The breach, documented in screenshots obtained by 404 Media, targeted Doublespeed's infrastructure used to manage hundreds of AI-powered TikTok accounts. The hacker gained access to a posting queue system and prepared content for distribution across customer accounts. According to the captured evidence, the attacker exfiltrated 47 megabytes of data and gained posting access to 573 social media accounts while compromising 413 phones within Doublespeed's network. The memes scheduled for publication featured images of a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen alongside occult symbolism. Doublespeed co-founder Zuhair Lakhani confirmed the security incident in a statement to 404 Media, noting that the company quickly addressed the unauthorized access attempt. "This involved an older system for queuing posts that had remained in place for compatibility with existing customer workflows, and we have since secured it," Lakhani stated. The startup emphasized that no unauthorized posts were successfully published to social media platforms, and the company found no evidence of broader impact to customers. Analysis of impacted accounts showed the prepared content never appeared on public social media feeds. This marks at least the second security breach for Doublespeed, following a previous compromise in December 2025 that exposed details of approximately 400 TikTok accounts operated by the startup. Those accounts were found to be promoting various products including supplements and dating apps, often without proper disclosure of their automated nature. Doublespeed raised $1 million from Andreessen Horowitz through the firm's "Speedrun" accelerator program in 2025. The startup markets its technology as a method to circumvent social media platform policies against inauthentic behavior, offering customers dashboard access to operate multiple AI-generated influencer accounts. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges facing companies operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and social media automation. Doublespeed currently focuses on TikTok account operations but plans to expand to X and Instagram platforms in the future.
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Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business. This story was sourced from 404 Media and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.
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