Steven Kramer, a political consultant, is in court for charges related to using AI-generated robocalls to suppress voters and impersonate a candidate before the presidential primary in New Hampshire. The FCC has proposed fines and new rules on AI usage in political advertising.
A political consultant, Steven Kramer, appeared in court in Laconia, New Hampshire, on charges of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate ahead of the state’s January 23 presidential primary. Kramer sent AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice to thousands of voters, falsely suggesting that voting in the primary would preclude them from voting in November. Kramer faces 13 felonies for attempting to deter voting and 13 misdemeanors for falsely representing himself or another as a candidate.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $6 million fine against Kramer. The FCC also proposed a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom for transmitting the calls, marking the agency’s first enforcement action involving generative AI technology. Kramer, who owns a voter outreach firm, claimed his intent was to highlight the dangers of artificial intelligence in political messaging.
At the arraignment, Assistant Attorney General Brendan O’Donnell secured a $10,000 cash bail, arguing it was necessary due to Kramer’s frequent travel and multiple residences. Kramer’s attorney, Tom Reid, argued for personal recognizance bail, emphasizing Kramer’s compliance with regulatory proceedings and court dates.
The FCC has confirmed that AI voice-cloning in robocalls is banned under existing laws and proposed new rules requiring political advertisers to disclose AI-generated content in ads to enhance transparency ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections.
