Photo credit: www.foxnews.com

Trial Commences for Consultant in AI-Generated Robocall Case

The legal proceedings have officially begun against a Democratic political consultant accused of orchestrating artificial intelligence (AI) generated robocalls that impersonated President Biden in the lead-up to the 2024 New Hampshire primary.

Steve Kramer is facing a potential fine of $6 million and over two dozen criminal charges after he allegedly contracted a magician to produce a deepfake of President Biden, which suggested voters abstain from participating in the primary election.

The fines proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mark a significant moment in the intersection of technology and electoral integrity, being the first of their kind involving AI technology.

The company identified in the robocall controversy, Lingo Telecom, is also in the crosshairs, facing a proposed fine of $2 million. However, both parties may have options to negotiate or settle with the FCC.

Kramer has acknowledged that he disseminated a misleading message to thousands of voters just two days prior to the state’s pivotal primary, which is scheduled for January 23.

The timing of New Hampshire’s primary conflicted with the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) prescribed schedule, resulting in President Biden’s absence from the ballot. This prompted local Democrats to initiate a write-in campaign to mitigate potential embarrassment for the president during his 2024 campaign for re-election.

Interestingly, the robocalls appeared to originate from Kathy Sullivan, the former chairperson of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, who was actively supporting the pro-Biden write-in effort at that time.

In an audio recording of the message, which was acquired by NBC News, the voice states, “What a bunch of malarkey. You know the value of voting Democratic when our votes count. It’s important that you save your vote for the November election.” The message continued, urging voters to prioritize their ballots in the general election over the primaries.

The reach of the fraudulent Biden calls is reported to be between 5,000 and 25,000 recipients, as noted in NBC’s investigation.

In detail, Kramer faces 13 felony accusations under New Hampshire law that prohibits attempts to deter individuals from voting through deceptive means. Additionally, he is confronted with 13 misdemeanor charges for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a candidate. The authorities have filed these charges across four counties, and the state attorney general’s office will handle the prosecution.

Kramer’s Actions as a Statement on AI Regulation

Kramer has previously stated that the intent behind creating the phone calls was to highlight the urgent need for regulation surrounding AI technologies. He reflected, “Maybe I’m a villain today, but I think, in the end, we get a better country and better democracy because of what I’ve done, deliberately.”

Identified as a specialist in voter mobilization, Kramer has experience working on various campaigns, including those of former Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Dean Phillips and the 2020 bid of Kanye West. Phillips has publicly distanced himself from Kramer, who claims to have acted independently.

Moreover, magician Paul Carpenter has admitted to creating the deepfake for a fee of $1 while also being paid $150 by Kramer for his services. Carpenter explained to NBC, “I created the audio used in the robocall. I did not distribute it… There was no malicious intent. I didn’t know how it was going to be distributed.”

Following the incidents, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella has initiated a formal investigation into the misleading robocalls that employed AI to mimic President Biden’s voice and dissuade voters from casting their ballots.

Formella confirmed that investigators pinpointed a Texas-based entity, Life Corp, as the source of the robocalls, with another Texas firm, Lingo Telecom, responsible for their transmission.

Lingo Telecom has expressed strong disagreement with the FCC’s proposed actions, characterizing them as an attempt to impose regulations retroactively. The company emphasized its commitment to regulatory compliance, asserting that it had cooperated fully with both federal and state inquiries into the robocall campaign.

Source
www.foxnews.com