A company that sent out automated phone calls featuring an AI-generated voice mimicking Joe Biden to New Hampshire voters has agreed to pay a $1 million fine. The calls were made by a company called Campaign Headquarters, Inc., which violated state laws regarding political robocalls. The company has since stopped the calls and agreed to the fine to settle the matter.
The calls were made during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race and featured an AI-generated voice that sounded like Joe Biden. The calls were not authorized by the Biden campaign and were intended to criticize other Democratic candidates in the race.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office launched an investigation into the calls and found that they violated the state’s laws regarding political robocalls. The investigation found that Campaign Headquarters, Inc. had made nearly 200,000 illegal calls to New Hampshire residents. As part of the settlement, the company has agreed to pay a $1 million fine to the state.
Campaign Headquarters, Inc. has stated that they are committed to complying with all state laws and regulations regarding political campaign activities. They have also agreed to cease making any further illegal robocalls in the state of New Hampshire.
This incident highlights the challenges of regulating political campaign activities in the digital age, especially with the use of AI-generated voices and technologies to reach voters. It also serves as a reminder to political campaigns and organizations to ensure that their activities comply with state laws and regulations to avoid facing fines and penalties.
Source
Photo credit news.google.com
