The recent increase in political campaigning has brought with it a new wave of technological misuse, as the attorney general’s office in New Hampshire begins probing into an AI-generated robocall that deceitfully mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice. This call, aimed at dissuading voter turnout for the upcoming primary election, is being scrutinized as a potentially illegal attempt to undermine the electoral process.
Unlawful Voter Suppression Tactics
Attorney General John Formella has taken a firm stance against this act of misinformation, urging the public to completely disregard the robocall’s message. The call misleadingly instructed citizens to “save your vote for November,” erroneously suggesting that participating in the primary could inadvertently aid Donald Trump’s campaign—a statement that bears no factual basis.
The Deceptive Use of AI
The robocall in question showcased an advanced use of AI, replicating President Biden’s voice with eerie accuracy and even including his signature phrase, “What a bunch of malarkey.” This incident has raised alarms about the potential for AI technologies to be exploited for election interference, particularly with the sophistication of deepfake and voice imitation technologies on the rise.
Implications for Campaign Integrity
Ironically, President Biden is not actively campaigning in New Hampshire nor is he listed on the primary ballot. Nevertheless, a write-in campaign in support of Biden is active within the state. The origin of these deceitful calls is currently unknown, but the robocalls were falsely presented as being from Kathy Sullivan’s personal number, a former Democratic Party chair and advocate for the Biden-backed super-PAC, Granite for America.
Condemnation and Response from Political Figures
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the campaign manager for Biden, has expressed outrage over the disinformation campaign, indicating that additional measures are being considered to counter these suppressive tactics. Similarly, Katie Dolan, a spokeswoman for Rep. Dean Phillips, who is contesting Biden in the Democratic primary, has denied any involvement and criticized such tactics as reprehensible.
Broader Concerns Over AI and Election Security
This is not the first instance of AI being employed in political campaigns, as seen with Pennsylvania congressional candidate Shamaine Daniels’s use of AI-augmented robocalls. The robocaller, named Ashley, was designed to engage with voters in a conversational manner. However, the recent misuse of AI in New Hampshire casts a shadow over the ethical deployment of such technologies and their potential impact on the integrity of elections.
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