New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said Tuesday that two Texas-based companies received robocalls using an “AI-generated clone” of President Biden’s voice urging voters not to participate in the Granite State’s primary last month. He announced that the incident could have been traced back and asserted that the federal government may have colluded with the federal government. National measures to ensure election integrity.
Formella, a Republican, held a press conference in Concord and said on January 21, just two days before the January 23 primary, “Many New Hampshire voters played recorded messages and what appeared to be AI. I received a robocall.” A clone of President Biden’s voice was created. ”
He said the robocalls encourage recipients not to participate in the primary election.
Formella said the caller said, “It’s important to save your vote for the November election.” “Your vote will make a difference in November, not this Tuesday,” he added on the call.
New Hampshire investigates fake Biden robocall telling voters not to participate in Tuesday’s primary
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella held a press conference in Concord on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, to provide an update on the investigation into robocalls made by an AI-generated clone of President Biden’s voice. (WFXT)
“The robocall illegally spoofed the caller ID information to make it appear as if it came from the number of the former chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. The recorded message also encouraged recipients to call the number and identify the “to ask to be removed from future calls,” he said. He said.
“After receiving multiple reports and complaints on the day these calls were made and the day after the calls were made, my office immediately began an investigation,” Formella said, adding that the office’s election law Described how the department cooperated in anti-robocall multi-state litigation. The task force is a bipartisan task force comprised of 50 state attorneys general and the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Enforcement. After identifying a particular phone, the Election Law Division requested a “traceback” through a group known as the Industry Traceback Group.
“After reviewing these tracebacks and reviewing the information received, we determined that these calls originated from Life Corporation, a Texas-based company owned by an individual named Walter Monk. , tracebacks also identified the calling provider as Lingo, a “Texas-based service provider called Telecom, which is not necessarily responsible for the call but may have relevant information.” Other likely organizations have also been identified,” Formella said.
After Lingo Telecom was informed that these calls were under investigation, Lingo Telecom suspended service to Life Corporation.
Individuals or entities making such calls may be subject to civil and criminal penalties under multiple New Hampshire laws, including laws prohibiting voter suppression. Potential federal penalties under the Truth and Caller ID Act of 2009, which prohibits submitting inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or fraudulently obtain anything of value There is also. Those who knowingly facilitate the sending of illegal robocalls can be held liable under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Formella said.
The New Hampshire Department of Justice issued a cease-and-desist letter to Life Corporation on Tuesday, ordering the company to immediately cease violating New Hampshire election law. Formella said his office has launched a criminal investigation and that the next steps in that investigation include document preservation with Life Corporation, Ringo Telecom, and any other individuals or entities believed to have relevant information. He said that includes sending notices and subpoenas.
Poll workers prepare for the New Hampshire primary election at the Bull Meadow Barn on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
2024 New Hampshire Key Results
“We continue our efforts to identify and hold accountable all individuals and businesses that may be responsible for these actions, and are keeping all law enforcement options on the table.” said.
Formella said the FCC issued a cease-and-desist order to Ringo Telecom on Tuesday “requiring it to immediately cease permitting illegal robocall traffic on its platform.” “Further enforcement actions from the FCC are still under consideration.”
Voters vote in the New Hampshire primary for the 2024 presidential election on January 23, 2024 in the Town of Dixville Notch. (Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images)
He said the Attorney General’s Robocall Task Force has also issued warning letters and is taking other steps to prepare for potential civil lawsuits against Life Corporation and other parties involved. New Hampshire will co-lead any civil or criminal proceedings that may result from the investigation.
Formella specifically thanked the attorneys general of North Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana for “excellent examples of bipartisan cooperation regarding threats to our election processes.” He also thanked companies YouMail and Nomorobo for helping collect data on illegal robocalls.
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“Ensuring public confidence in the electoral process is extremely important and should be one of the top priorities for law enforcement,” Formella said. “We are providing this update and information today to ensure the public knows we take this seriously and this is one of our most important priorities. But we also provide this update and information to send a strong deterrent message to all individuals and groups: Who seeks to undermine our elections through AI or other means? Our message is clear: Law enforcement across the country is bipartisan, unified, and ready to work together to fight any attempt to undermine our elections. We are committed to keeping elections free, fair, and secure.”
He added: “We will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the integrity of our elections and democratic processes.”
Fox News’ Molly Line contributed to this report.
