Democratic consultant Steve Kramer is facing a plethora of legal challenges after being accused of orchestrating an AI deepfake robocall impersonating President Biden. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a hefty $6 million fine against Kramer for allegedly violating the Truth in Caller ID Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
The robocalls, which circulated before the New Hampshire primary earlier this year, used AI technology to mimic Biden’s voice and discourage individuals from voting. The caller ID falsely appeared to be from a prominent local political consultant, Kathy Sullivan, further violating regulations set by the FCC.
Kramer, who has connections to Democratic US Rep. Dean Phillips’ presidential campaign, has been charged with 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonating a political candidate by the New Hampshire Department of Justice. In a surprising turn of events, Kramer admitted to hiring a magician, Paul Carpenter, to create the Biden deepfake voice for a mere $150.
Carpenter, who claims he was unaware of the intentions behind the deepfake voice, expressed regret over his involvement. However, Kramer seems unphased by the legal repercussions, stating that he is willing to testify and believes he has valid reasons for his actions.
President Biden highlighted the dangers of AI voice impersonation during his State of the Union address, calling for a ban on such technology. In the aftermath of the robocall incident, Phillips’ campaign expressed condemnation for the calls and any attempts to suppress voting.
With his extensive experience in political campaigns, Kramer’s actions have sparked widespread concern about the misuse of AI technology for deceptive purposes. The ongoing legal battle and proposed FCC fine serve as a cautionary tale for individuals considering similar tactics in future elections.
