In a concerning turn of events, Democrats in New Hampshire are raising alarms over an AI-powered robocall that mimics the voice of President Joe Biden. The call encourages Democrats not to vote in the upcoming primary, prompting calls for legal action and raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process. As investigations unfold, the incident sheds light on the potential misuse of AI technology in political campaigns and the urgent need for regulations to safeguard the democratic process.
The Controversial Robocall:
A prominent New Hampshire Democrat, Kathy Sullivan, expressed strong condemnation for the makers of the robocall, asserting that they should be "prosecuted to the fullest extent" for what she deems an "attack on democracy." Sullivan, a former state party chair, believes the call could violate several laws and has vowed to pursue those responsible. The New Hampshire attorney general, John Formella, has advised voters to disregard the call's contents.
The Contents of the Call:
NBC News released a recording of the AI-powered call, which begins with a phrase characteristic of President Biden – "What a bunch of malarkey." The voice urges voters to save their votes for the November election, alleging that voting in the upcoming primary would benefit Republicans. The call concludes with an option to be removed from future calls, displaying Sullivan's phone number.
Impact on Primary Election:
President Biden's name will not appear on the Democratic ballot on Tuesday due to New Hampshire's departure from the official primary calendar. Instead, there is a push for Democrats to write in Biden's name. The controversial robocall seems designed to discourage Democratic voters from participating in the primary.
Response and Investigations:
Sullivan, leading the Granite for America Super PAC, which supports Democrats backing Biden as a write-in candidate, views the call as election interference and a form of harassment. An investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the deceptive robocall. Sullivan received calls referencing the message, further fueling concerns about its potential impact.
AI Manipulation in Politics:
The incident comes amid broader concerns about the use of AI in political campaigns. OpenAI, the creator of the ChatGPT AI tool, recently banned a developer who created a bot impersonating Democratic candidate Dean Phillips. This raises questions about the potential use of AI to manipulate voters and its implications for the democratic process.
Calls for Regulation:
As the federal government grapples with the regulation of AI in campaign ads, advocacy groups like Public Citizen are urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to take action. Concerns about deepfake technology influencing elections have prompted calls for swift regulatory measures to prevent electoral chaos.
The AI-driven robocall impersonating President Biden in New Hampshire has ignited a firestorm of criticism, prompting Democrats to demand legal action and raising broader concerns about the use of AI in political campaigns. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the need for timely regulations to protect the integrity of the democratic process and prevent the misuse of advanced technologies in influencing voters.