Company that transmitted Biden deepfake robocall fined $1 million

The Federal Communications Commission fined a telecom company $1 million for permitting a deepfake robocall impersonating President Joe Biden’s voice to be transmitted to New Hampshire residents.

The robocall was made ahead of the New Hampshire Democratic primary in January and told people not to vote with the Biden deepfake voice.

Lingo Telecom is a voice service provider that distributed the AI-generated Biden robocalls through “spoofed” phone numbers. In addition to paying a $1 million fine, the company agreed to follow the “strict adherence” to the FCC’s framework for caller ID authentication.

“Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be,” Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it.”

The man behind creating the deepfake robocall was actually a seasoned Democratic operative, who at the time was working on Rep. Dean Phillips’s (D-MN) campaign.

Steve Kramer said he created the robocall as a stunt to showcase the dangers of deepfakes. He said that no one on Phillip’s campaign had directed him or was aware of the stunt. 

Kramer faces a $6 million fine from the FCC and 26 criminal counts of voter intimidation and impersonating officials in New Hampshire. 

In addition, he faces a lawsuit from the League of Women Voters. 

“Voter intimidation, whether carried out in person or by way of deepfake robocalls, online disinformation campaigns, or other AI-fueled tactics, can stand as a real barrier for voters seeking to exercise their voice in our democracy,” said Kristen Clarke, the head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, in a statement.

As AI technology becomes more prevalent, officials seek to send a message to deter people from spreading false information that could interfere with election integrity.

“By holding Lingo Telecom accountable for its role in transmitting the spoofed robocalls carrying AI-generated messages, the FCC is sending a strong message that election interference and deceptive technology will not be tolerated,” said New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella in a statement.