Mastermind behind Biden robocall scam fined $6 million for New Hampshire scheme

The Federal Communications Commission issued a $6 million fine against a political consultant who sent artificial intelligence-generated robocalls impersonating President Joe Biden’s voice to voters before New Hampshire’s presidential primary.

The FCC fined Steven Kramer, 54, for sending AI-generated phone calls mimicking Biden’s voice to voters and using one of the president’s signature phrases: “What a bunch of malarkey.” The calls violated federal caller ID laws. New Hampshire’s attorney general also charged Kramer with 26 criminal charges.

“New Hampshire remains committed to ensuring that our elections remain free from unlawful interference and our investigation into this matter remains ongoing,” New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement. “I hope that our respective enforcement actions send a strong deterrent signal to anyone who might consider interfering with elections, whether through the use of artificial intelligence or otherwise.”

Kramer confessed to coordinating a message that was sent to thousands of voters just 48 hours before the first presidential primary on Jan. 23, urging them not to participate. The message featured an AI-generated voice similar to Biden’s and falsely told listeners that voting in the primary would prevent them from casting their ballots in November.

While refusing to give further comments, Kramer previously said he was trying to send a wake-up call about the dangers of AI.

“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,” Kramer told the Associated Press in February.

Kramer is facing 13 felony charges for voter suppression using misleading information and 13 misdemeanor charges for impersonating a candidate. While the charges were filed in four different counties, he will be prosecuted by the state attorney general’s office.

Paul Carpenter is the person who created the audio of Biden’s voice. He told NBC News that Kramer hired him and provided screenshots of text messages and payment transactions to corroborate his story.

Kramer confirmed Carpenter’s account, but he said he did it to prompt stricter regulations of AI deepfakes.

Kramer previously worked on Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN)’s campaign when he was running against Biden in the Democratic primary. Kramer and the Phillips campaign both denied that the campaign had any knowledge of the robocall or directed him to create it.

The FCC also issued a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom, LLC, for apparently originating illegal robocall traffic.

With the first widespread example of AI being used in national politics, the FCC put forward a new rule banning unsolicited AI robocalls.

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FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said regulators are committed to helping states go after the perpetrators.

“There is no need to travel to far-off lands to see how AI can sow confusion. Because when a caller sounds like a politician you know, a celebrity you like, or a family member who is familiar, any one of us could be tricked into believing something that is not true with calls using AI technology,” she said in a statement. “It is exactly how the bad actors behind these junk calls with manipulated voices want you to react.”