Authorities in New Hampshire uncover a deepfake audio scandal involving an AI-generated cloned message of President Joe Biden. This is just the latest in a wave of AI deepfakes being used for political purposes. The fake messages were used in an attempt to dissuade Democratic voters from participating in recent primary elections.
According to multiple media reports, the incident was traced back to a Texas company, Life Corporation. In this case, AI-generated audio of President Biden was used to urge New Hampshire voters to skip the state’s primary election.
Tactics and Investigation of the Deepfake Political Scheme
The AI-generated Biden audio circulated through thousands of robocalls. The sophisticated scheme even mimicked the president’s catchphrases. New Hampshire authorities, aided by the Industry Traceback Group, traced the calls to their source. Life Corporation’s involvement led to a cease-and-desist letter from the FCC.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella emphasized potential criminal and civil charges for the perpetrators. He cited laws against voter suppression and deceptive caller ID usage. As the investigations unfold, entities beyond Life Corporation and its telecommunications partner, Lingo Telecom, are being scrutinized. The disinformation campaign highlights the risks of AI-enabled election interference. And it prompts calls for increased awareness and education about such threats.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving landscape of deepfake technology and the challenges it poses to the integrity of elections. AI deepfakes used in politics are likely to be a dominate issue in the 2024 election cycle.
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