AI-Generated Robocall Mimicking Joe Biden Attempts to Suppress Voters in New Hampshire Primary
The New Hampshire Attorney-General’s office has launched an investigation into reports of an apparent robocall that aimed to suppress voter turnout in the state’s primary election. The recorded message, using artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic US President Joe Biden’s voice, discouraged voters from going to the polls during the primary. Attorney-General John Formella stated that the call appears to be an illegal attempt to disrupt and suppress voting, urging voters to disregard its contents entirely.
In the call, the voice imitating Biden can be heard using his commonly-used phrase, What a bunch of malarkey, before telling the listener to save your vote for the November election. The voice falsely claimed that voting in Tuesday’s primary would only benefit the Republicans in their bid to re-elect Donald Trump. However, this claim is not accurate as voting in the primary does not exclude voters from casting a ballot in November’s general election.
The source of these calls is currently unknown, although they were falsely displayed on recipients’ phones as originating from the personal cellphone number of Kathy Sullivan, a former state Democratic Party chairwoman associated with Granite for America, a super-PAC supporting the Biden write-in campaign. Sullivan has reported the calls to law enforcement and the Attorney-General’s office, deeming them outright election interference.
While it remains uncertain how many individuals received these calls, several people have already come forward, expressing their alarm and disgust at the attempts to suppress their votes. Gail Huntley, a Democratic voter in Hancock, New Hampshire who plans to write in Biden’s name, received the call and initially believed it was Biden’s real voice due to its convincing nature. She quickly realized it was a scam as the message lacked coherence and logical reasoning.
Both the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, have confirmed that the call was fake and not recorded by the president. Rodriguez stated that they are actively discussing additional actions to address this issue, emphasizing their commitment to fighting against disinformation and attempts to undermine democracy.
This incident reflects a growing concern among election experts who predict an increase in election disinformation, globally, by using rapidly advancing generative AI technology. Deepfakes created using generative AI have already made appearances in campaign ads during the 2024 presidential race, and their misuse has been observed in various elections worldwide.
As the federal government grapples with the challenges posed by AI technology, there is currently no legislation in place to regulate the industry’s role in politics. While there is some bipartisan support, Congress has yet to pass any legislation addressing this issue. Meanwhile, the Federal Election Commission is considering public comments on a petition to regulate AI deepfakes in campaign ads.
David Becker, an election law expert and former US Department of Justice attorney, points out that while the intention behind the New Hampshire calls is unclear, it serves to further erode the public’s trust in democratic processes. He notes that convincing people of the lies being told is not necessary; the goal is to make people feel that there is no truth in anything they hear.
This incident underscores the need for swift and decisive action to combat election interference and protect the integrity of the democratic process. It serves as a wake-up call to lawmakers and authorities to address the risks associated with AI-generated disinformation and take proactive steps to safeguard elections from such threats in the future.
