The New Hampshire Department of Justice has disclosed that Life Corporation, a Texas-based firm, and an individual named Walter Monk are behind the robocall featuring a voice resembling that of President Joe Biden. Attorney General John Formella emphasized that these calls, aimed at New Hampshire voters, constitute misinformation and advised citizens to disregard them.
The automated messages, generated by an AI deepfake tool, aimed to influence the 2024 presidential election. This technology employs advanced algorithms to create realistic but deceptive digital content, including audio recordings.
The investigation into the voter suppression calls began in mid-January following identification by the state attorney general’s office. Collaboration with state and federal partners, such as the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force and the Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau, led to the identification of the perpetrators.
Life Corporation received a cease-and-desist order for violating New Hampshire statutes on bribery, intimidation, and suppression. Additionally, the Election Law Unit traced the calls to a Texas-based telecom provider, Lingo Telecom. The FCC also intervened, issuing a cease-and-desist letter to Lingo Telecom regarding alleged AI-generated voice cloning in robocalls.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed considering calls featuring AI-generated voices as illegal, suggesting adherence to regulations outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
The incident underscores growing concerns about the misuse of AI technologies, with organizations like the World Economic Forum and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service highlighting the risks associated with deepfakes and disinformation campaigns.
