Indictment Unveils Culprit Responsible for AI-Produced Fake Robocalls Targeting Biden

A political consultant affiliated with the Democratic Party has been charged for his involvement in the creation and distribution of AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office revealed that Steven Kramer, a consultant working for rival candidate Dean Phillips, was indicted for impersonating a candidate during the state’s Democratic primary election. Using AI technology, Kramer allegedly sent thousands of robocalls to New Hampshire residents, imitating President Biden’s voice and urging them not to vote. The content of the calls suggested that voters should save their vote for the November election, emphasizing that their vote would have a greater impact at that time. Attorney General John Formella has brought 13 felony voter suppression charges and 13 misdemeanor impersonation charges against Kramer. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $6 million fine for Kramer, stating that the deepfake robocalls violated caller ID regulations. The phone company responsible for transmitting the calls, Lingo Telecom, may also face a proposed FCC fine of $2 million for incorrectly labeling the calls and hindering the detection of potential spoofing by other providers. Attorney General Formella expressed hope that these enforcement actions would deter any future attempts to interfere with elections, whether through AI or other means. Kramer has defended his actions in a previous interview, claiming that he planned the fake robocalls as an act of civil disobedience to draw attention to the risks associated with AI in politics. The incident has raised concerns about the potential for AI-generated content to mislead voters in the upcoming 2024 elections. The Biden campaign has taken precautions to address these threats, assembling a team to prepare for the potential impact of AI on the election. It is crucial for voters to be able to identify AI-generated deepfakes, as they have become increasingly prevalent during election seasons. In an effort to prevent AI software from influencing elections, 20 major AI tech companies made a pledge earlier this year. In an interview, sci-fi author David Brin suggested the idea of using AI against itself as a safeguard against an AI apocalypse.