Lingo Telecom fined $1M for AI-generated Biden deepfake robocalls
Lingo Telecom agreed to pay $1 million to the Federal Communications Commission for transmitting AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Biden's voice to New Hampshire voters during the Democratic primary election in January 2024. The calls falsely claimed that voting in the primary would prevent general election participation. The incident prompted increased FCC focus on AI transparency and caller authentication standards.
What happened
In January 2024, robocalls were transmitted to voters in New Hampshire with an AI-generated voice mimicking U.S. President Joe Biden. The calls falsely stated that voting in the Democratic primary would preclude participation in the general election. The sender information was falsified to appear to come from a Democratic political committee.
Reported impact
The fraudulent calls were sent to thousands of voters in New Hampshire during the Democratic primary election period. The incident raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI in elections and democracy.
Index analysis
Political consultant Steve Kramer was identified as the originator of the calls and faced a proposed $6 million FCC fine. Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider that transmitted the calls, agreed to pay a $1 million fine and to implement a program to verify the trustworthiness of customers using its networks.
Governance controls
The FCC stated that clear caller ID authentication and transparency about AI usage are needed. The FCC chair emphasized that if AI is being used, it should be made clear to consumers, citizens and voters who encounter it.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.