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The FCC has fined a political consultant $6 million for orchestrating the robocalls that urged Democrats not to vote in the New Hampshire primaries earlier this year.
The calls, which appeared to come from President Biden, told people: "Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday."
Steve Kramer, a political consultant who worked for Rep. Dean Phillips' presidential campaign, used AI-generated voice-cloning tech and caller ID spoofing to spread election misinformation. This violates the Truth in Caller ID Act, and Kramer must pay the issued fine within 30 days, the FCC says. If he fails to do so, the matter will be handed over to the US Justice Department.
"It is now cheap and easy to use AI to clone voices and flood us with fake sounds and images. By unlawfully appropriating the likeness of someone we know, this technology can illegally interfere with elections," says FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. "If you flood our phones with this junk, we will find you, and you will pay."
Kramer is also facing 26 criminal charges in New Hampshire.
Last month, the FCC also fined Lingo Telecom $1 million for distributing the fake Biden robocalls. The agency is also working to require companies and campaigns to disclose the use of AI in their calls and political ads.