Telecom Company Fined $1M for Role in Biden Deepfake Robocall Scam

TLDR:

• Lingo Telecom fined $1M by FCC for transmitting Biden deepfake robocalls
• Calls used AI to mimic Biden’s voice, discouraging voting in NH primary
• Company must implement strict compliance plan and authentication rules
• Political consultant Steve Kramer faces separate $6M fine for orchestrating calls
• Incident highlights growing concerns over AI deepfakes in elections

Lingo Telecom, a Texas-based telecommunications company, has been fined $1 million by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its involvement in transmitting deepfake robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice.

The calls, which targeted New Hampshire voters ahead of the state’s primary election in January, used artificial intelligence (AI) to create a convincing imitation of Biden’s voice, urging people not to vote.

The FCC’s enforcement action against Lingo Telecom is part of a broader effort to combat the use of deceptive technologies in political campaigns and to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

In addition to the monetary penalty, the company has agreed to implement a comprehensive compliance plan that includes strict adherence to the FCC’s caller ID authentication rules.

The incident began when political consultant Steve Kramer orchestrated the creation and distribution of the deepfake robocalls. Kramer, who was working for rival candidate Dean Phillips, has been indicted on 26 felony and misdemeanor charges in New Hampshire for voter suppression and impersonation of a candidate.

The FCC has separately proposed a $6 million fine for Kramer’s role in the scam.

The use of AI-generated content to impersonate political figures represents a new and concerning development in the ongoing battle against disinformation. Deepfakes, which utilize advanced AI algorithms to create highly realistic audio or video recordings, pose a significant threat to public trust and the democratic process.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the importance of transparency in communications, stating, “Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be. If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it.”

As part of its settlement with the FCC, Lingo Telecom will be required to implement stricter “know your customer” and “know your upstream provider” principles. These measures are designed to enable phone carriers to monitor call traffic more effectively and ensure that all calls are properly authenticated.

The FCC’s action against Lingo Telecom comes in the wake of growing concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology in elections.

In February, the agency adopted a ban on AI-generated voices in robocalls without recipients’ consent, shortly after the New Hampshire incident was reported. The FCC has also proposed new requirements for political advertisers to disclose the use of generative AI in radio and TV advertisements.

The Biden deepfake robocall incident has sparked discussions about the need for updated regulations and technological solutions to address the challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI capabilities.

In March, a group of 20 leading AI technology firms pledged to ensure their software would not be used to impact electoral outcomes.

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella praised the FCC’s action, calling it “a major victory for the integrity of elections.” He added that holding Lingo Telecom accountable sends a strong message that election interference and deceptive technology will not be tolerated.