Telecom Company Fined $1 Million for AI-Generated Biden Robocalls in New Hampshire

Company that sent fake Biden robocalls in New Hampshire agrees to $1m fine

Case is seen by many as unsettling example of how AI might be used to influence groups of voters and democracy A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1m fine and bolster its caller identification and authentication features, US regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2m fine. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed $6m FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. The case is seen by many as an unsettling early example of how AI might be used to influence groups of voters and democracy as a whole. The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on 21 January. They featured a voice similar to Biden's falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be,"said Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC chair, in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company had earlier said it strongly disagreed with the FCC's action, calling it an attempt to impose new rules retroactively. Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, said earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action. If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. Nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen commended the FCC on its action. Robert Weissman, the co-president, said Rosenworcel got it "exactly right" by saying consumers have a right to know when they are receiving authentic content and when they are receiving AI-generated deepfakes. Weissman said the case illustrates how such deepfakes pose "an existential threat to our democracy". Loyaan Egal, the FCC enforcement bureau chief, said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities".

Company that sent AI calls mimicking Joe Biden to New Hampshire voters agrees to pay $1 million fine

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) -- A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine, federal regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2 million fine. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed $6 million FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on Jan. 21. They featured a voice similar to Biden's falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action. If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen commended the FCC on its action. Co-president Robert Weissman said Rosenworcel got it "exactly right" by saying consumers have a right to know when they are receiving authentic content and when they are receiving AI-generated deepfakes. Weissman said the case illustrates how such deepfakes pose "an existential threat to our democracy." FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities."

Company that sent AI calls mimicking Joe Biden to New Hampshire voters agrees to pay $1 million fine

MEREDITH, N.H. -- A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine, federal regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2 million fine. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed $6 million FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on Jan. 21. They featured a voice similar to Biden's falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action. If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities."

Telecom company to pay $1 million fine for Biden deepfake robocall

The telecommunications company that transmitted robocalls that used artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic President Biden's voice will pay a $1 million fine, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Wednesday. Lingo Telecom carried the calls that targeted New Hampshire voters ahead of the Granite State's primary in January, using an audio recording of the president's cloned voice to tell people not to vote. In addition to the fine, the voice service provider has also agreed to implement a compliance plan, which requires "strict adherence" to the FCC's framework for caller ID authentication, according to an agency press release. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Steve Kramer, the veteran Democratic operative who admitted to directing the robocalls, separately faces a $6 million proposed fine from the FCC. He was also indicted on 26 felony and misdemeanor charges in New Hampshire for voter suppression and impersonation of a candidate. "This settlement is a major victory for the integrity of elections, especially for New Hampshire and its voters who were targeted," New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement. "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," he added.

Company that sent AI calls mimicking Joe Biden to New Hampshire voters agrees to pay $1 million fine

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) -- A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine, federal regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2 million fine. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed $6 million FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on Jan. 21. They featured a voice similar to Biden's falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action. If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities."

Lingo Telecom agrees to $1 million fine over AI-generated Biden robocalls

(Reuters) - Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the agency said it transmitted fake robocalls imitating President Joe Biden seeking to dissuade people from voting for him in New Hampshire's Democratic primary election, a U.S. government regulator said on Wednesday. The Federal Communications Commission said Lingo transmitted spoofed robocalls that used generative artificial intelligence voice-cloning technology "to spread disinformation." The calls were directed by political consultant Steve Kramer, who has been charged by the New Hampshire state attorney general's office. The FCC earlier proposed fining Lingo $2 million for allegedly transmitting the robocalls in January. The FCC said Lingo under the settlement will implement a compliance plan requiring strict adherence to FCC caller ID authentication rules. Lingo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "This settlement sends a strong message that communications service providers are the first line of defense against these threats and will be held accountable to ensure they do their part to protect the American public," FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said. Kramer faces charges after thousands of New Hampshire residents received a robocall message asking them not to vote until November. Kramer told media outlets in February he paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to call attention to the issue, after the calls were discovered in January. He had worked for Biden's challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls. The FCC has separately proposed fining Kramer $6 million over the robocalls. The commission last month voted to propose requiring broadcast radio and television political advertisements to disclose whether content is generated by AI. There is growing concern in Washington that AI-generated content could mislead voters in the Nov. 5 presidential and congressional elections. The FCC has said AI will likely play a substantial role in 2024 political ads. The proposed rule would require on-air and written disclosures and cover cable operators, satellite TV and radio providers. The FCC does not have the authority to regulate internet or social media ads or streaming services. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

The telecom company that allowed a Biden deepfake scam will have to pay the FCC $1m

Lingo Telecom has been ordered to pay a $1 million civil penalty by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after it relayed a falsified robotic recording of a President Biden voice message urging voters not to turn up to the New Hampshire primary, labelling it a 'bunch of malarkey'. The FCC said Artificial Intelligence will likely play a significant role in 2024 election ads, and has already proposed a law which would require political ads broadcast on television and radio to disclose any AI generated content. Lingo Telecom, previously known as Impact Telecom, Matrix Business Technologies, VarTec Telecom (and many, many more) is reported to have been carrying out illegal call operations for years. However, it only transmitted the calls - the organization which made the recording was the Life Corporation, a company that is no stranger to spreading misinformation, first cited for delivering 'illegal prerecorded unsolicited advertisements' in 2003. The specific 'political consultant' behind the scheme was Steve Kramer, who was working for the presidential campaign for Democratic candidate Dean Phillips - but NBC found no evidence that the Phillips campaign had any involvement. Kramer now faces criminal charges in New Hampshire and was hit with a $6 million fine. The FCC hope that the fine will deter telecoms organisations from any similar disinformation campaigns. "This settlement sends a strong message that communications service providers are the first line of defense against these threats and will be held accountable to ensure they do their part to protect the American public," said FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal. Lingo agreed to follow FCC regulations strictly this time. The FCC maintains that voters deserve to know whether the caller's identity is genuine, and that an AI generated content should be clearly communicated to the audience. The FCC does not have the authority to regulate streaming services or social media.

Telecom involved in Biden deepfake robocall fined $1 million

By Lauren Feiner, a senior policy reporter at The Verge, covering the intersection of Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill. She spent 5 years covering tech policy at CNBC, writing about antitrust, privacy, and content moderation reform. A telecom company that transmitted the deepfake robocall of President Joe Biden's voice has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve an enforcement action from the Federal Communications Commission, the agency announced. Lingo Telecom relayed a fake Biden message to New Hampshire voters in January, urging them not to turn out for the Democratic primary. The FCC identified political consultant Steve Kramer as the person behind the generative AI calls and previously proposed Kramer pay a separate $6 million fine. Under the new settlement with Lingo, the FCC said the company will need to strictly adhere to its caller ID authentication rules, including "Know Your Customer" principles. The FCC will also require Lingo to "more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers," according to a press release. A Lingo spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." The FCC in February adopted a ban on AI-generated voices in robocalls without recipients' consent, shortly after the New Hampshire deepfake call was reported. It also recently proposed requirements for political advertisers to disclose the use of generative-AI on radio and TV.

Lingo Telecom Agrees to $1 Million Fine Over AI-Generated Biden Robocalls

(Reuters) - Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the agency said it transmitted fake robocalls imitating President Joe Biden seeking to dissuade people from voting for him in New Hampshire's Democratic primary election, a U.S. government regulator said on Wednesday. The Federal Communications Commission said Lingo transmitted spoofed robocalls that used generative artificial intelligence voice-cloning technology "to spread disinformation." The calls were directed by political consultant Steve Kramer, who has been charged by the New Hampshire state attorney general's office. The FCC earlier proposed fining Lingo $2 million for allegedly transmitting the robocalls in January. The FCC said Lingo under the settlement will implement a compliance plan requiring strict adherence to FCC caller ID authentication rules. Lingo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "This settlement sends a strong message that communications service providers are the first line of defense against these threats and will be held accountable to ensure they do their part to protect the American public," FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said. Kramer faces charges after thousands of New Hampshire residents received a robocall message asking them not to vote until November. Kramer told media outlets in February he paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to call attention to the issue, after the calls were discovered in January. He had worked for Biden's challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls. The FCC has separately proposed fining Kramer $6 million over the robocalls. The commission last month voted to propose requiring broadcast radio and television political advertisements to disclose whether content is generated by AI. There is growing concern in Washington that AI-generated content could mislead voters in the Nov. 5 presidential and congressional elections. The FCC has said AI will likely play a substantial role in 2024 political ads. The proposed rule would require on-air and written disclosures and cover cable operators, satellite TV and radio providers. The FCC does not have the authority to regulate internet or social media ads or streaming services. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Company That Sent AI Calls Mimicking Joe Biden to New Hampshire Voters Agrees to Pay $1 Million Fine

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) -- A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine, federal regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2 million fine. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed $6 million FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on Jan. 21. They featured a voice similar to Biden's falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action. If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities." Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Lingo Telecom agrees to $1 million fine over AI-generated Biden robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission said Lingo transmitted spoofed robocalls that used generative artificial intelligence voice-cloning technology "to spread disinformation." The calls were directed by political consultant Steve Kramer, who has been charged by the New Hampshire state attorney general's office.Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the agency said it transmitted fake robocalls imitating President Joe Biden seeking to dissuade people from voting for him in New Hampshire's Democratic primary election, a US government regulator said on Wednesday. The Federal Communications Commission said Lingo transmitted spoofed robocalls that used generative artificial intelligence voice-cloning technology "to spread disinformation." The calls were directed by political consultant Steve Kramer, who has been charged by the New Hampshire state attorney general's office. The FCC earlier proposed fining Lingo $2 million for allegedly transmitting the robocalls in January. The FCC said Lingo under the settlement will implement a compliance plan requiring strict adherence to FCC caller ID authentication rules. Lingo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "This settlement sends a strong message that communications service providers are the first line of defense against these threats and will be held accountable to ensure they do their part to protect the American public," FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said. Kramer faces charges after thousands of New Hampshire residents received a robocall message asking them not to vote until November. Kramer told media outlets in February he paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to call attention to the issue, after the calls were discovered in January. He had worked for Biden's challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls. The FCC has separately proposed fining Kramer $6 million over the robocalls. The commission last month voted to propose requiring broadcast radio and television political advertisements to disclose whether content is generated by AI. There is growing concern in Washington that AI-generated content could mislead voters in the Nov. 5 presidential and congressional elections. The FCC has said AI will likely play a substantial role in 2024 political ads. The proposed rule would require on-air and written disclosures and cover cable operators, satellite TV and radio providers. The FCC does not have the authority to regulate internet or social media ads or streaming services.

Telecom company agrees to $1M fine over Biden deepfake

New Hampshire voters received a fake robocall pretending to be President Joe Biden before the presidential primaries in January.Emily Elconin / Bloomberg via Getty Images file A telecom company has agreed to pay a $1 million fine for its role in the deepfake robocall that impersonated President Joe Biden's voice ahead of the New Hampshire Democratic primary, federal authorities plan to announce Wednesday. Lingo Telecom, a voice service provider that distributed the artificial intelligence-generated robocalls through "spoofed" phone numbers, will pay the seven-figure penalty and agreed to stricter oversight protocols, in what federal authorities call a first-of-its-kind enforcement action against malicious deepfakes, or AI-driven impersonations of others. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it." The robocall employed an AI-generated impersonation of Biden's voice, which told New Hampshire voters not to vote in January's Democratic primary. As first uncovered by NBC News, the call was orchestrated by longtime political consultant Steve Kramer, who at the time was working for a rival campaign, though Kramer says he did it as a stunt to raise awareness about the danger of deepfakes. Kramer and his then-employer, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., insist no one on the campaign directed Kramer or was even aware of his actions. Kramer is separately facing a $6 million fine from the FCC, as well as 26 criminal counts of voter intimidation and impersonating officials in New Hampshire. He is currently out on bail. He is also facing a civil lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters. The U.S. Department of Justice threw its weight behind the suit last month. "Voter intimidation, whether carried out in person or by way of deepfake robocalls, online disinformation campaigns, or other AI-fueled tactics, can stand as a real barrier for voters seeking to exercise their voice in our democracy," said Kristen Clarke, the head of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, in a statement. The Biden robocall was the first use of a deepfake in national American politics, so authorities said they moved quickly and aggressively to deter political deepfakes, which have grown rampant 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," said New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella in a statement.

Lingo Telecom mimicked Joe Biden in AI-deceptive calls; slapped with $1M fine | Today News

A company that used AI to mimic President Biden's voice in deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters will pay a $1 million fine, the FCC announced. The case highlights AI's potential threat to democracy. A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine, federal regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a USD 2 million fine. The case is seen by many as an unsettling early example of how AI might be used to influence groups of voters and democracy as a whole. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed USD 6 million FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on January 21. They featured a voice similar to Biden's falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action.\ Also Read: US Elections 2024: 'Kamala Harris will be historic president', says Joe Biden at Democratic National Convention If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Also Read: 'Joe Biden is the O.G. girl dad': Ashley Biden leaves US President teary-eyed at Democratic National Convention Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company had earlier said it strongly disagreed with the FCC's action, calling it an attempt to impose new rules retroactively. Nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen commended the FCC on its action. Co-president Robert Weissman said Rosenworcel got it "exactly right" by saying consumers have a right to know when they are receiving authentic content and when they are receiving AI-generated deepfakes. Weissman said the case illustrates how such deepfakes pose "an existential threat to our democracy." Also Read: Kamala Harris praises Joe Biden's 'historic legacy', says 'forever grateful to you' | 10 updates FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities."

Company that sent AI calls mimicking Joe Biden to voters agrees to pay $1 million fine

A company that sent deceptive calls to New Hampshire voters using artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden's voice agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine, federal regulators said. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the robocalls, agreed to the settlement to resolve enforcement action taken by the Federal Communications Commission, which had initially sought a $2 million fine. The case is seen by many as an unsettling early example of how AI might be used to influence groups of voters and democracy as a whole. Meanwhile Steve Kramer, a political consultant who orchestrated the calls, still faces a proposed $6 million FCC fine as well as state criminal charges. Musk's AI chatbot Grok generates deepfakes of PM Modi and other illegal images The phone messages were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters on January 21. They featured a voice similar to Biden's, falsely suggesting that voting in the state's presidential primary would preclude them from casting ballots in the November general election. (Unravel the complexities of our digital world on The Interface podcast, where business leaders and scientists share insights that shape tomorrow's innovation. The Interface is also available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.) Kramer, who paid a magician and self-described "digital nomad" to create the recording, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary, but he rather wanted to highlight the potential dangers of AI and spur lawmakers into action. If found guilty, Kramer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years on a charge of voter suppression and a sentence of up to one year on a charge of impersonating a candidate. The FCC said that as well as agreeing to the civil fine, Lingo Telecom had agreed to strict caller ID authentication rules and requirements and to more thoroughly verify the accuracy of the information provided by its customers and upstream providers. Trump posts image of fake Taylor Swift endorsement "Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be," FCC chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. "If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line." Lingo Telecom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company had earlier said it strongly disagreed with the FCC's action, calling it an attempt to impose new rules retroactively. Nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen commended the FCC on its action. Co-president Robert Weissman said Rosenworcel got it "exactly right" by saying consumers have a right to know when they are receiving authentic content and when they are receiving AI-generated deepfakes. Weissman said the case illustrates how such deepfakes pose "an existential threat to our democracy." FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said the combination of caller ID spoofing and generative AI voice-cloning technology posed a significant threat "whether at the hands of domestic operatives seeking political advantage or sophisticated foreign adversaries conducting malign influence or election interference activities." Read Comments

FCC Reaches $1 Million Settlement With Telco Over Election-Meddling Involving AI - Decrypt

Lingo Telecom has agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission over AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden's voice and were designed to interfere with the 2024 New Hampshire presidential primary. The calls were orchestrated by Steve Kramer, a political consultant who was subsequently charged with 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonation of a candidate and fined $6 million by the FCC earlier this year in May. It's the latest in a string of incidents using AI to sway voters' opinions ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. In July, a fake AI video was circulated online by tech billionaire Elon Musk that falsely showed Vice President Kamala Harris making statements she never said. Musk later clarified that the video was intended to be satire and not meant to be taken at face value. While Michigan-based Lingo Telecom had not produced the deepfake material, the FCC took action against the company for failing in its duty to comply with Know Your Customer and Know Your Upstream Provider regulations, according to a Wednesday statement. In addition to the financial penalty, Lingo Telecom has agreed to several measures that will prevent its service from being used in this way again in the future. Those include: Decrypt has contacted the FCC and Lingo Telecom for comment but has not heard back at the time of writing. In a statement, FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan A. Egal said the settlement sends a "strong message" that communications service providers are expected to be the first line of defense against deepfake threats and that the FCC will hold them accountable. The potential for deepfakes to mislead voters has emerged as a significant concern during the current election cycle. Earlier this week, it was reported that Donald Trump has been using AI-generated deepfakes of Taylor Swift, Elon Musk, and political opponent Kamala Harris to support his campaign for a second election.

Lingo Telecom agrees to $1 million fine over AI-generated Biden robocalls

The FCC earlier proposed fining Lingo $2 million for allegedly transmitting the robocalls in January. The FCC said Lingo under the settlement will implement a compliance plan requiring strict adherence to FCC caller ID authentication rules. Lingo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "This settlement sends a strong message that communications service providers are the first line of defense against these threats and will be held accountable to ensure they do their part to protect the American public," FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said. Kramer faces charges after thousands of New Hampshire residents received a robocall message asking them not to vote until November. Kramer told media outlets in February he paid $500 to have the calls sent to voters to call attention to the issue, after the calls were discovered in January. He had worked for Biden's challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips, who denounced the calls. The FCC has separately proposed fining Kramer $6 million over the robocalls. The commission last month voted to propose requiring broadcast radio and television political advertisements to disclose whether content is generated by AI. There is growing concern in Washington that AI-generated content could mislead voters in the Nov. 5 presidential and congressional elections. The FCC has said AI will likely play a substantial role in 2024 political ads. The proposed rule would require on-air and written disclosures and cover cable operators, satellite TV and radio providers. The FCC does not have the authority to regulate internet or social media ads or streaming services. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis)