Topline
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced Tuesday that a robocall to New Hampshire voters circulating before the state’s primary in January was traced back to Life Corporation, a Texas-based company.
Life Corporation received a cease and desist letter ordering it to stop violating New Hampshire ... [+]
Key Facts
Formella said Tuesday in a press conference investigators have sent Life Corporation a cease and desist order requesting the company immediately stop violating New Hampshire election laws and that a criminal investigation is underway.
Traceback technology was used to trace the calls to Life Corporation—owned by Walter Monk—and to identify Lingo Telecom, a Texas-based company that received a cease and desist order from the Federal Communications Commission, as the originating source provider, Formella said.
After Lingo Telecom was informed of the investigation, it stopped services to Life Corp, Reuters reported.
Somewhere between 5,000 and 25,000 calls using what is believed to be an AI-generated vocal clone of President Joe Biden and encouraging voters not to participate in the primary were believed to be made, according to the attorney general’s office.
Formella said “the individuals or entities who placed these calls face potential civil and criminal penalties,” including a statute prohibiting voter suppression, and potential penalties under federal laws.
Forbes has reached out to Life Corp and Lingo Telecom.
Crucial Quote
“Law enforcement across the country is unified on a bipartisan basis and ready to work together to combat any attempt to undermine our elections,” Formella said. “We are committed to keeping our elections free, fair and secure.”
Surprising Fact
Biden won the New Hampshire primary—despite not being on the ballot. The Democratic National Convention moved its first sanctioned primary to South Carolina and Biden sided with it, removing himself from the now-unsanctioned New Hampshire primary. But Democratic voters launched a write-in campaign that secured a victory for Biden in New Hampshire despite his absence from the ballot.
Key Background
The attorney general’s office opened an investigation into the calls shortly after Jan. 21, when they began to reach New Hampshire voters just two days before the state’s primary. The calls featured audio seemingly from Biden, that said “voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again,” adding votes only make “a difference in November, not this Tuesday.” The calls were criticized by Kathy Sullivan, a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, who said they were “an attack on democracy.” The likely AI-generated robocalls reignited fears of how artificial intelligence will impact this year’s election. Just one week before the calls began, the World Economic Forum warned AI-generated ads and misinformation could disrupt elections and pose a global risk.
