A Democratic political consultant is facing serious consequences after allegedly utilizing AI technology to produce a deepfake recording of President Joe Biden’s voice. The consultant has been charged with a total of 26 criminal offenses and is also subject to a hefty $6 million fine. The charges stem from the distribution of robocalls that were designed to spread false information during the election.
Steven Kramer, a 54-year-old individual, was recently indicted in New Hampshire on charges of felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate. This indictment is a result of his involvement in a scheme that aimed to prevent Democratic voters from exercising their right to vote in the New Hampshire presidential primary.
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According to investigators from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Mr. Kramer is accused of creating a deepfake using Mr. Biden’s voice, in which he encouraged potential voters to “save” their votes for the upcoming November election. It is alleged that he then utilized a voice service provider to transmit these manipulated recordings.
The FCC stated that the calls were in violation of the Truth in Caller ID Act as they maliciously spoofed the number of a well-known local political consultant.
According to the agency, Mr. Kramer is facing a $6 million fine for “apparent spoofing violations,” in addition to the charges in New Hampshire.
The New Hampshire attorney general’s office launched an investigation into the situation after receiving complaints about the calls in January.
Attorney General John Formella recently identified two Texas companies as the ones responsible for the incessant calls.
Life Corporation has been accused of creating the message, while Lingo Telecom has been implicated in providing the service. Both companies have been compelled to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
In February, news broke that Mr. Kramer was allegedly involved in the scheme after a magician from Louisiana publicly claimed that he had been paid by Mr. Kramer to create an AI-generated voice of Mr. Biden.
According to the magician, NBC News reports that Mr. Kramer, a Democratic consultant who previously worked on ballot access for former candidate Dean Phillips, enlisted his services to produce a deepfake of Mr. Biden’s voice.
In a later interview with the news outlet, Mr. Kramer openly admitted to commissioning the robocall, emphasizing that his intention was to draw attention to the potential risks of AI in politics. He made it clear that his actions were unrelated to Mr. Phillips.
In an interview with NBC News, he expressed his belief that his actions have made a significant impact. He stated, “This is a way for me to make a difference, and I have.” He further explained that for a mere $500, he was able to generate approximately $5 million worth of outcomes, whether that be through media attention or regulatory action.
The political consultant is now facing 13 felony charges for voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor charges for impersonating a candidate in the state of New Hampshire.
Mr. Formella expressed his hope that the law enforcement action would serve as a strong deterrent to anyone contemplating interference in elections, whether it be through the use of artificial intelligence or any other means.
