Steven Kramer, a political consultant, faces criminal indictment and fines for allegedly orchestrating a scheme involving thousands of robocalls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence (AI) that imitated President Joe Biden’s voice.
The fake voice urged voters not to vote in the state’s presidential primary election.
Kramer confessed to authoring the calls in January, just before New Hampshire’s presidential primary. He argued that the calls aimed to highlight the capabilities and risks of AI technology.
However, prosecutors contend that they violate state laws against voter deterrence.
The robocalls featured a realistic imitation of Biden saying:
“What a bunch of malarkey!”
This is followed by a warning that voting in the primary would preclude them from participating in the general election in November.
Facing over two dozen charges, roughly half of which relate to felony voter suppression, Kramer also confronts misdemeanors for making false statements and impersonating a political candidate.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $6 million fine for Kramer’s “spoofing” activities, with Lingo Telecom, allegedly involved in routing the robocalls, facing a $2 million penalty.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella emphasized the ongoing investigation and hoped that the enforcement actions would deter future election interference.
Charges have been filed across multiple counties, and Kramer is set for arraignment in June.
Kramer’s admission of responsibility earlier this year revealed his collaboration with Paul Carpenter, a marketing consultant and magician, who created the audio for the robocalls.
Carpenter distanced himself from any malicious intent, stating that he was unaware of how the recordings would be used.
The indictments signify a significant legal development in a case that has sparked scrutiny over the manipulation of AI technology for deceptive political purposes.
