VOA News: A Look into US Politics

TL/DR –

Louisiana political consultant, Steven Kramer, has been indicted over a fraudulent robocall impersonating Joe Biden with the intention of dissuading people from voting for him in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary election. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $6 million fine over the robocalls, which used an AI-generated deepfake audio recording of Biden’s voice. The FCC has also hinted at the increasing role of AI in political ads, and the potential for misleading “deep fakes”.

Political Consultant Indicted over Fake Biden Robocall in New Hampshire

A political consultant from Louisiana, Steven Kramer, has been indicted due to a misleading robocall imitating President Joe Biden, a move aimed at discouraging voters in the New Hampshire Democratic primary. This information was disclosed by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

Kramer, 54, is facing 13 charges including felony voter suppression and candidate impersonation. The charges ensued after several New Hampshire residents received a robocall, telling them to delay voting until the forthcoming November election.

Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a hefty $6 million fine on accusations of utilizing an AI-generated deepfake audio recording of Biden’s voice in the misleading robocalls. The FCC cited this as a violation of its regulations against transmitting inaccurate caller ID information.

Additionally, the FCC is proposing a $2 million fine on Lingo Telecom, the alleged transmitter of the controversial robocalls.

There is a rising apprehension in Washington about the potential of AI-generated content to mislead voters in the future presidential and congressional elections. Several senators are pushing for legislation addressing AI threats to election integrity before the November vote.

The New Hampshire Attorney General, John Formella, stated that the state remains committed to ensuring free, lawful elections. He further expressed hope that these recent actions send a deterrent signal to anyone contemplating election interference.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel recently suggested a requirement for disclosing AI-generated content in political radio and TV ads. However, she did not propose a complete ban on AI-generated content.

The FCC anticipates AI will have a significant role in the 2024 political ads, particularly through the creation of misleading deepfakes.

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