Politics
AI ‘Biden’ robocall seeks to suppress New Hampshire voter turnout
By Jake Beardslee · January 22, 2024
In brief…
- Robocall sounding like AI-generated Biden voice aims to deter Dem voters in NH primary
- NH authorities received complaints about call, say it seems to unlawfully disrupt primary
- Organizers of write-in Biden campaign blast "deep fake disinformation"
- Watchdogs warn AI voice synthesis tech could spread election misinformation
A concerning new robocall sounding like an artificial intelligence-generated version of President Biden’s voice is aiming to deter Democratic voters in New Hampshire from casting ballots in the state’s Tuesday presidential primary, according to CNN.
The New Hampshire attorney general’s office said Monday it received complaints about the recorded phone message that “sounds like the voice of President Biden” but “appears to be artificially generated based on initial indications,” The Hill reported. The office said the call seems to be an “unlawful” attempt to disrupt the primary and encouraged voters to disregard it.
Organizers behind the campaign to write in Biden’s name in the primary also denounced the robocall as “deep fake disinformation designed to harm Joe Biden, suppress votes, and damage our democracy,” said spokesperson Aaron Jacobs. He said the call had been referred to police to identify who was responsible.
The use of artificial intelligence to mimic voices and potentially spread misinformation has raised alarm bells among election watchdogs. Public Citizen President Robert Weissman said the “New Hampshire deepfake is a reminder of the many ways that deepfakes can sow confusion and perpetuate fraud.”
Public Citizen has pushed the Federal Election Commission to update its rules to address AI technology being deployed in campaigns. But the FEC, which voted last August to seek public input on potential AI regulations, has yet to act despite bipartisan calls for action from Congress.