Political consultant behind fake Biden robocalls faces $6 million fine and criminal charges

NOW - GRAND JURIES IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES HAVE INDICTED HIM ON CRIMINAL CHARGES. <00:00:00:00 "IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SAVE YOUR VOTE FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION."> THIS IS THE CALL THAT WENT OUT TO PEOPLE ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE JUST ONE DAY BEFORE THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY IN JANUARY. A MESSAGE - GENERATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SOUND LIKE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN - DISCOURAGING VOTERS FROM HEADING TO THE POLLS. <00;00;50;02 "IT SOUNDED LIKE JOE BIDEN AND I WAS LIKE THAT'S WEIRD AND THEN AS I LISTENED MORE I'M LIKE.. IT DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE JOE BIDEN."> KRISTA ZUREK WAS ONE OF THE VOTERS TO GET THE CALL. NOW - THE MAN WHO ADMITTED TO SENDING IT IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES. GRAND JURIES IN THREE NEW HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES - INDICTING STEVEN KRAMER FOR IMPERSONATING A CANDIDATE AND BRIBING - INTIMIDATION - AND SUPPRESSION. IN A FEBRUARY INTERVIEW WITH NEWS 9.... KRAMER CLAIMED HE ONLY SENT THE MESSAGES TO PROVE A POINT ABOUT THE NEED FOR REGULATIONS AROUND A-I.... AND HAD A MESSAGE FOR PROSECUTORS. <00:00:00:23 "IF THEY WANT TO COME AFTER ME AND MORE AND LET'S SAY 'YOU'RE GETTING THROWN IN JAIL AND THROW AWAY THE KEY AND ALL THAT' WELL IF THAT'S THEIR ATTITUDE, THEN BRING IT."> THOSE WHO GOT THE CALL SAY THEY WERE FURIOUS SOMEONE TRIED TO KEEP THEM FROM VOTING... AND ARE HAPPY TO SEE KRAMER IS NOW FACING CHARGES. <00;02;13;08 "I'M GLAD. THEY NEED TO STOP THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S RIDICULOUS."> <00;02;44;08 "THIS IS OUR RIGHT TO VOTE AND IT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THINGS IN THE ELECTION - JUST TERRIBLE. SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, IT NEEDS TO BE MADE CLEAR THAT WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AROUND OUR VOTES.> WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BUT WERE TOLD THEY CANNOT COMMENT

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a $6 million fine against a political consultant who sent AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice to voters ahead of New Hampshire’s presidential primary.Steve Kramer, who also faces two dozen criminal charges in New Hampshire, has admitted orchestrating a message that was sent to thousands of voters two days before the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. The message played an AI-generated voice similar to Biden’s that used his phrase “What a bunch of malarkey” and falsely suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting a ballot in November.Court documents show Kramer is facing 13 felony charges alleging he violated a New Hampshire law against attempting to deter someone from voting using misleading information. He also faces 11 misdemeanor charges accusing him of falsely representing himself as a candidate by his own conduct or that of another person. The charges were filed in four counties but, as often happens with serious crimes, will be prosecuted by the state attorney general’s office.Kramer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday but previously said he was trying to send a wake-up call about the dangers of artificial intelligence.The FCC also issued a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom, which is accused of transmitting the calls. A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Thursday.FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said regulators are committed to helping states go after perpetrators. In a statement, she called the robocalls “unnerving.”“Because when a caller sounds like a politician you know, a celebrity you like, or a family member who is familiar, any one of us could be tricked into believing something that is not true with calls using AI technology,” she said in a statement. “It is exactly how the bad actors behind these junk calls with manipulated voices want you to react.”

CONCORD, N.H. —

Steve Kramer, who also faces two dozen criminal charges in New Hampshire, has admitted orchestrating a message that was sent to thousands of voters two days before the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. The message played an AI-generated voice similar to Biden’s that used his phrase “What a bunch of malarkey” and falsely suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting a ballot in November.

Court documents show Kramer is facing 13 felony charges alleging he violated a New Hampshire law against attempting to deter someone from voting using misleading information. He also faces 11 misdemeanor charges accusing him of falsely representing himself as a candidate by his own conduct or that of another person. The charges were filed in four counties but, as often happens with serious crimes, will be prosecuted by the state attorney general’s office.

Kramer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday but previously said he was trying to send a wake-up call about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

The FCC also issued a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom, which is accused of transmitting the calls. A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Thursday.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said regulators are committed to helping states go after perpetrators. In a statement, she called the robocalls “unnerving.”

“Because when a caller sounds like a politician you know, a celebrity you like, or a family member who is familiar, any one of us could be tricked into believing something that is not true with calls using AI technology,” she said in a statement. “It is exactly how the bad actors behind these junk calls with manipulated voices want you to react.”

Political consultant behind fake Biden robocalls faces $6 million fine and criminal charges

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