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The regulator hopes that the ruling will prevent the further use of AI-generated voice imitation.
By: Georgia Sweeting, Total Telecom
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined US communications system provider Lingo Telecom $1 million for sending robocalls that used a deepfake of President Joe Biden’s voice.
A robocall is an automated telephone call that delivers a pre-recorded message, usually on behalf of a political party or telemarketing company.
In this case, the robocalls targeted voters in New Hampshire ahead of the January 2024 Democratic primary, urging them not to vote. These calls were reported to the FCC, which immediately launched an investigation.
Texas-based Lingo Telecom made 3,978 calls in January of this year on behalf of a customer called Life Corporation. Those calls were organized by political consultant Steve Kramer, who was then working for a candidate running against Biden. The FCC’s investigation found that Lingo Telecom had failed to verify the calls, violating caller ID authentication rules.
In addition to the $1 million fine, Lingo Telecom has agreed to implement a compliance plan. The plan includes adhering to the FCC’s Caller ID Authentication Framework. These measures will improve the traffic verification process and ensure the authenticity of caller information – a first in the FCC’s enforcement history.
Steve Kramer, the mastermind of the robocalls, must also pay a $6 million fine and is officially charged with 26 counts of serious and minor crimes, including voter suppression and impeachment.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella praised the settlement, saying, “This is a major victory for election integrity, especially for New Hampshire and its voters who were targeted.”
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel reiterated support for the fine, saying, “Each of us has the right to know that the voice on the phone is actually who it claims to be. When AI is used, that should be made clear to every consumer, citizen and voter who comes into contact with it.”
“Voter intimidation, whether in person or through deepfake robocalls, online disinformation campaigns, or other AI-powered tactics, can pose a real barrier to voters seeking to exercise their voice in our democracy,” said Kristen Clarke, director of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in a opinion.
The case represents an important step in the fight against the misuse of AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns and will set a precedent for future enforcement actions. The FCC confirmed The fine sends a “strong signal 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.”
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