New Hampshire Officials to Investigate A.I. Robocalls Mimicking Biden
Voters in New Hampshire received robocall messages over the weekend impersonating President Biden and urging them not to vote in Tuesday’s primary election. The state attorney general’s office is investigating the incident.
Investigation into A.I. Robocalls
The attorney general’s office in New Hampshire is investigating robocall messages received by voters in the state over the weekend. The recorded voice, most likely artificially generated, impersonated President Biden and urged listeners not to vote in Tuesday’s primary election.
The fake recordings were designed to appear as if they had come from a Democratic committee officer. However, the attorney general’s office emphasized that voting in the primary would not affect voters' ability to cast ballots in the general election.
The office released a statement, labeling the robocalls as an unlawful attempt to disrupt the primary election and suppress voters in New Hampshire. They urged voters to completely disregard the content of the message.
Concerns over Deepfake Audio
Experts in disinformation and politics are raising concerns about the use of deepfake audio technology in this election season. Deepfake refers to deceptive audio or video content created using artificial intelligence.
In the past, the Republican National Committee used deepfake technology to create a video with images portraying doomsday scenarios after President Biden announced his re-election bid. Furthermore, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared fake images of former President Donald J. Trump alongside Dr. Anthony Fauci, his political rival.
This rise in deepfake audio technology has prompted state lawmakers to draft bills that regulate the use of artificial intelligence in producing political content. Misleading voters using such technology has already occurred in tight foreign elections.
Complaints and Calls for Action
Following a complaint from Kathleen Sullivan, a former chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, the attorney general's office initiated an investigation into the robocall accusations. In her complaint, Sullivan mentioned that recipients of the unauthorized robocalls saw her husband’s name on their caller ID and were provided with her personal cellphone number.
Sullivan, who is currently the treasurer of a political committee encouraging voters to write in President Biden’s name on the ballot, expressed concerns about the tactics used and emphasized the need for punishment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident in New Hampshire highlights the growing urgency for policymakers to implement protections against deepfake audio and video content to ensure electoral integrity.
