The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has slapped a $6 million fine on political consultant Steve Kramer for orchestrating deepfake robocalls designed to interfere with the 2020 New Hampshire primary.
Kramer admitted hiring a magician to spoof President Joe Biden’s voice using artificial intelligence, crafting calls that urged voters not to appear at the polls just two days before the primary election.
The robocall, which falsely mimicked Biden’s voice, was part of an attempt to suppress voter turnout by misleading citizens into believing the message was genuine. This marked one of the most alarming examples of AI manipulating voters, highlighting the potential dangers of deepfake technology in election campaigns. Kramer confessed to orchestrating the calls in February, acknowledging that the objective was to deceive voters at a critical moment.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel condemned the interference, stating, “If you flood our phones with this junk, we will find you and you will pay.” The $6 million fine sends a strong message about the regulatory body’s stance on using emerging technologies for election manipulation. It also emphasizes the FCC’s commitment to cracking down on robocalls that disrupt democratic processes.
The incident raises broader concerns about the increasing use of AI to produce highly realistic deepfakes capable of spreading disinformation. As technology evolves, experts warn that similar attempts to undermine elections could become more sophisticated, making it crucial for regulators to take proactive measures to safeguard election integrity in the digital age.
