Consultant Cleared of Charges Related to AI Robocall Voter Suppression

Steven Kramer, a political consultant, was acquitted of charges related to voter suppression and impersonating a candidate for sending AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden to New Hampshire Democrats. The calls, sent days before the January 23, 2024, primary, advised voters to “save [their] vote for the November election,” potentially misleading them about the primary’s importance. Kramer, who orchestrated the calls to highlight AI’s dangers in political campaigning, faced up to decades in prison if convicted but argued that the primary was unrecognized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which weakened the state’s voter suppression laws. The jury sided with Kramer, leading to his acquittal. Meanwhile, he faces a $6 million fine from the FCC for the calls, which he refuses to pay. The case highlights ongoing challenges in regulating AI’s influence on elections, amidst evolving legislation and proposed restrictions on state-level AI regulations.

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