Political Consultant Faces Trial Over AI-Generated Robocalls
Concord, N.H. (AP) — Steven Kramer, a political consultant accused of sending misleading robocalls featuring an artificial intelligence-generated voice mimicking former President Joe Biden, is set to face trial this Thursday in New Hampshire. He is charged with voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, facing decades in prison if convicted.
The robocalls, sent to thousands of voters just two days before the state’s January 23, 2024 presidential primary, included phrases like "What a bunch of malarkey" and suggested that voting in the primary would limit participation in the general election. Kramer, who has acknowledged his role, claimed his intention was to highlight the dangers of AI, not to sway the election outcome.
Complicating matters, state prosecutors argued against Kramer being able to claim the primary was merely a "straw poll," a contention Judge Elizabeth Leonard allowed despite the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) earlier decision to reassess New Hampshire’s primary status. Jurors will be instructed that New Hampshire did hold its primary as per legal definition.
Kramer faces 11 felony and 11 misdemeanor charges tied to misleading voters and falsely representing himself as a candidate. He has also incurred a hefty $6 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission for his actions. As debates over AI’s role in political messaging continue, more than half of U.S. states have enacted laws regulating AI in campaigns, while Congress contemplates federal guidelines.
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