New Hampshire Robocalls with AI-Generated Clone of President Biden’s Voice: An Unprecedented Election Interference

The recent incident of robocalls with an AI-generated clone of President Biden’s voice in New Hampshire during the primary elections has raised significant concerns about election interference and the potential misuse of advanced technology. This article delves into the details of the incident, the investigation, and the implications for the future of election security.

On January 21, 2024, just two days before the New Hampshire primary elections, numerous voters in the state received robocalls with an AI-generated clone of President Biden’s voice. The recorded message encouraged recipients not to participate in the primary elections, stating, “It’s important that you save your vote for the November election. Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.” The calls also instructed recipients to call a number belonging to the former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party to ask that person be removed from future calls.

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella immediately opened an investigation into the matter, working with the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force and the Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau. After identifying specific calls, the Election Law Unit requested tracebacks via the Industry Traceback Group. The investigation revealed that the source of the calls was Life Corporation, a Texas-based company owned by Walter Monk, and the originating source provider was Lingo Telecom, a Texas-based service provider.

The New Hampshire Department of Justice issued a cease-and-desist letter to Life Corporation, ordering the company to immediately stop violating New Hampshire election laws. The investigation also resulted in the FCC issuing a cease-and-desist order to Lingo Telecom, demanding that it immediately stop allowing illegal robocall traffic on its platform. The attorney general’s office is continuing its work to identify and hold all individuals or companies responsible for these acts accountable.

The incident raises concerns about the potential misuse of advanced technology to interfere with elections. The use of AI-generated voices to mimic political figures is a new and unprecedented form of election interference. The ability to create convincing AI-generated voices could lead to more sophisticated and damaging forms of election interference in the future.

The investigation and subsequent actions taken by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and the FCC serve as a strong message of deterrence to any person or entity who would attempt to undermine elections through AI or other means. Ensuring public confidence in the electoral process is vital, and law enforcement across the country is unified on a bipartisan basis and ready to work together to combat any attempt to undermine elections.

The incident also highlights the importance of election security and the need for continued efforts to protect the integrity of the electoral process. Measures such as mandatory voter ID and mandatory in-person requests for absentee and early voting can help secure the vote. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and take action against any form of election interference, regardless of the political affiliation of the perpetrators.

In conclusion, the New Hampshire robocalls with an AI-generated clone of President Biden’s voice represent an unprecedented form of election interference. The investigation and subsequent actions taken by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and the FCC serve as a strong message of deterrence and a reminder of the importance of election security. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and continue to take action against any form of election interference, regardless of the political affiliation of the perpetrators. The future of our democracy depends on it.