A political consultant was acquitted on Friday for using a robocall generated by artificial intelligence that impersonated former President Joe Biden during last year’s New Hampshire Democratic primary. Stephen Kramer, 56, of New Orleans, sent out adjusted messages to thousands of voters two days prior to the state’s election. The presidential primary election occurred on January 23, 2024. The AI-generated voice closely resembled that of a Democrat president, and it featured the catchphrase “what a bunch of malarkey,” implying that participating in the primary would hinder efforts to revoke voting rights in November, as prosecutors contended.
“It’s crucial to save your vote for the November election,” voters expressed. “Your vote matters then, not this Tuesday.”
Kramer, facing decades in prison if found guilty, testified that he aimed to send a wake-up call regarding the potential threats posed by AI technology when he paid The Magician of New Orleans $150 for the recording. Frequently encountering AI usage in campaigns, he resolved to take action, citing concerns over insufficient regulation.
“This will be my good deed this year,” he said during his testimony at the Belknap County Superior Court.
Prosecutors labeled the call an assault on primary election integrity, while Kramer’s defense sought to challenge the Democratic National Committee over anger.
Following Biden’s request, the DNC removed New Hampshire from its traditional early spot in the 2024 nomination calendar. However, the threat to deny the state national convention delegates was later rescinded. Although Biden did not report votes or campaign there, he still secured a write-in victory.
Kramer, who operates a company focused on voting initiatives, argued that the primary was an insignificant, unapproved straw vote by the DNC, thus making state voter suppression laws inapplicable. His defense also claimed that since Biden’s name was not mentioned in the message, he was not impersonating a candidate, as Biden hadn’t declared himself a primary candidate.
The judge clearly concurred, acquitting Kramer of 11 felony voter suppression charges, each carrying a potential penalty of up to seven years in prison. The 11 charges of impersonation could result in a maximum sentence of one year each.
New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formela issued a statement, saying, “Our commitment to enforcing election laws remains steadfast. We will continue to work diligently to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to safeguard the integrity of our elections.”
Kramer is also facing a $6 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission; however, he informed The Associated Press that he intends not to pay it. Lingo Telecom, the firm that dispatched the call, has agreed to a $1 million settlement in August.
The agency, which has been formulating AI-related regulations since Donald Trump’s presidency victory, has shown signs of possibly loosening those rules. While several states have passed laws regulating AI deepfakes in political campaigns, Congressional Republicans recently added a provision to a major tax bill that prohibits states and regions from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade.
Source: apnews.com