In a follow-up to a story we’ve been bringing you all year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reached a settlement with Lingo Telecom after the company was found to have transmitted spoofed robocalls using AI-generated voice cloning technology in an effort to interfere with the 2024 New Hampshire presidential primary. The calls, which featured a deepfake voice mimicking U.S. President Joe Biden, was part of a scheme orchestrated by political consultant Steven Kramer to mislead voters and suppress turnout. The settlement includes a $1 million civil penalty and imposes strict compliance measures on Lingo Telecom, marking the first instance of the FCC addressing election interference involving generative AI.
The robocalls were first reported on January 22, 2024, when New Hampshire’s Attorney General’s Office revealed that it was investigating complaints from thousands of residents who received the misleading messages. The calls urged recipients to “save [their] vote for the November election” and falsely claimed, “Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday,” leading voters to believe they should not participate in the Democratic presidential primary. The robocalls appeared to be spoofed to make it seem like they were sent by the treasurer of a political committee supporting Biden’s write-in campaign in the primary.
Following a thorough investigation, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office charged Steven Kramer with 13 felony counts of voter suppression under RSA 659:40, III, and 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonation of a candidate under RSA 666:7-a. These charges are spread across four counties—Rockingham, Belknap, Grafton, and Merrimack—based on the locations of the 13 voters who received the robocalls. The charges allege that Kramer intentionally misled voters by transmitting pre-recorded messages that disguised the call’s source, used an artificially created voice of a candidate, and provided false information designed to deter voter participation.
“New Hampshire remains committed to ensuring that our elections are free from unlawful interference, and our investigation into this matter continues,” said Attorney General John M. Formella. “The Federal Communications Commission will separately announce an enforcement action against Mr. Kramer for violations of federal law. I am pleased to see our federal partners are equally dedicated to protecting consumers and voters from harmful robocalls and voter suppression. I hope our enforcement actions serve as a strong deterrent to anyone considering interfering with elections, whether through artificial intelligence or other means.”
The FCC’s settlement with Lingo Telecom requires the company to adopt comprehensive compliance measures, including adherence to the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication rules and rigorous “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and “Know Your Upstream Provider” (KYUP) principles. These measures aim to ensure that carriers can verify the legitimacy of the traffic they transmit and prevent the misuse of AI technologies in future communications. In addition to the financial penalty, Lingo Telecom must implement systems to verify the accuracy of information provided by its customers and upstream providers.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the importance of transparency and trust in communications, stating, “Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be. If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line.”
The use of AI-generated voice cloning technology in this voter suppression scheme highlights the growing risks associated with emerging technologies in the political sphere. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division underscored the threat posed by such tactics, stating, “Voter intimidation, whether carried out in person or by way of deepfake robocalls, online disinformation campaigns, or other AI-fueled tactics, can stand as a real barrier for voters seeking to exercise their voice in our democracy.”
The enforcement actions against Kramer and Lingo Telecom serve as a warning to those who seek to manipulate elections using deceptive technologies. As the legal process continues, including Kramer’s pending case, both federal and state authorities remain vigilant in safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process against future threats.
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