As reported by NBC News, a telecommunications company has consented to pay a $1 million penalty for its involvement in the deepfake robocall featuring an impersonation of President Joe Biden’s voice before the New Hampshire Democratic primary, as per federal authorities' scheduled announcement.
Lingo Telecom, a voice service provider responsible for disseminating the artificially generated robocalls using "spoofed" phone numbers, has agreed to pay the seven-figure penalty and implement more rigorous oversight protocols, marking the first-of-its-kind enforcement action against malicious deepfakes, or AI-driven impersonations, as stated by federal authorities.
"Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," emphasized Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it."
The robocall utilized an AI-generated impersonation of Biden’s voice, instructing New Hampshire voters not to participate in the Democratic primary in January.
Initially unveiled by NBC News, the call was orchestrated by longtime political consultant Steve Kramer, who, at the time, was affiliated with a competing campaign. However, Kramer insists that it was executed as a stunt to raise awareness about the risks of deepfakes and asserts that no one within the campaign was aware of his actions.
Kramer is currently facing a $6 million fine from the FCC, along with 26 criminal charges of voter intimidation and impersonating officials in New Hampshire.
Additionally, he is embroiled in a civil lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters, which recently received support from the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Voter intimidation, whether carried out in person or through deepfake robocalls, online disinformation campaigns, or other AI-fueled tactics, can serve as a major barrier for voters seeking to exercise their voice in our democracy,” stated Kristen Clarke, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
The Biden robocall marked the initial use of a deepfake in national American politics, prompting authorities to swiftly and forcefully deter political deepfakes, which have become widespread in some other countries.
"By holding Lingo Telecom accountable for its role in transmitting the spoofed robocalls carrying AI-generated messages, the FCC is sending a strong message that election interference and deceptive technology will not be tolerated," emphasized New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella in a statement.
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