CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Artificial Intelligence Robocalls He faces a $6 million fine and more than 20 criminal charges for imitating President Joe Biden’s voice to voters ahead of New Hampshire’s presidential primary.
Federal Communications Commission The FCC said the penalty it proposed Thursday against Steven Cramer is its first involving generative AI technology. Ringo Telecom, which allegedly transmitted the calls, faces a $2 million fine, but both cases could be settled or further negotiated between the parties, the FCC said.
Cramer acknowledged that he orchestrated the messages that were sent to thousands of voters two days ago. The first national primary election The message was delivered by an AI-generated voice sounding similar to the Democratic president’s phrase “what a ridiculous story” and falsely suggested that voting in the primary would prevent voters from voting in November.
Cramer is charged with 13 felony counts of attempting to discourage voting by using misleading information in violation of New Hampshire law, and 13 misdemeanor counts of falsely representing himself or herself as a candidate, either through his own actions or the actions of others. The charges have been filed in four counties and will be prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General John Formella said New Hampshire is committed to ensuring the state’s elections are “free from unlawful interference.”
What you need to know about the 2024 election
“I’m pleased that our federal partners are similarly committed to protecting consumers and voters from harmful robocalls and voter suppression,” said Formella, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.
Ringo Telecom said it strongly opposes the FCC’s action, which it sees as an attempt to retroactively impose new rules.
“Lingo Telecom takes its regulatory obligations extremely seriously and has cooperated fully with federal and state government agencies in assisting in identifying those responsible for originating the robocall campaign in New Hampshire,” the company said. “Lingo Telecom had no role in making these calls, and the company’s actions comply with all applicable federal regulations and industry standards.”
The New Hampshire call falsely appeared to recipients to come from the personal cellphone number of Cathy Sullivan, a former state Democratic Party chair who supported Biden’s write-in ballot campaign. Sullivan said in an email Thursday that she hoped Cramer had learned “that there is a high cost to trying to rig an election.”
“We hope that the swift and decisive action by the New Hampshire Department of Justice and the FCC will deter other egregious and foolish actors who have no respect for our democracy,” she said.
Kramer, who runs a company that specializes in voting promotion projects, did not respond to an email seeking comment Thursday. He told The Associated Press in February that he was not trying to influence the outcome of the election. Send a wake-up call Potential Dangers of Artificial Intelligence New Orleans Magician It costs $150 to create the recording.
“I may be the bad guy right now, but I think we’re ultimately going to have a better country, a better democracy, because of the things I’ve done with purpose,” Cramer said in February.
Suppressing the vote is punishable by three and a half to seven years in prison. Impersonating a candidate is punishable by up to one year in prison.
In an interview days after being publicly identified as the source of the calls, Cramer said he didn’t agree with Biden that robocalls reduced voter turnout. Won the Democratic primary Cramer said he worked on ballot access for another former Democratic presidential candidate, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, but acted alone.
“I wrestled in college and I’m ready to fight,” said Kramer, who is scheduled to appear in court June 5. “If you want to put me in jail, good luck.”
Since the New Hampshire robocall scandal, the FCC has taken steps to combat the growing use of artificial intelligence tools in political communications. In February, AI voice duplication tools for robocalls will be banned Under existing law, a bill introduced Wednesday suggestion To political advertisers: artificial intelligence In broadcast advertising on television and radio.
If adopted, the new rules would add a layer of transparency that many lawmakers and AI experts have called for. Rapidly advancing generative AI tools Create a ton of lifelike images, videos and audio clips Misleading voters in the upcoming US elections.
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday that regulators are committed to helping states pursue perpetrators. In a statement, she called the New Hampshire robocalls “disturbing.”
“When calls are made using AI technology, anyone could be tricked into believing something that is not true if the caller sounds like a politician they know, a celebrity they like, or a close family member,” she said in a statement. “This is exactly how bad actors behind nuisance calls with manipulated voices want you to respond.”
___
Swenson reported from New York.
___
The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to strengthen its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. Learn more about The Associated Press Democracy Initiative here. hereThe AP is solely responsible for all content.
