Telecom company fined $1 million for fake Biden robocall

The telecommunications company that transmitted robocalls using artificial intelligence (AI) to imitate President Biden’s voice will be fined $1 million, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Wednesday.

Lingo Telecom broadcast the calls targeting New Hampshire voters ahead of the Granite State’s primary in January, using an audio recording of the president’s cloned voice to tell people not to vote.

In addition to the fine, the voice service provider also agreed to implement a compliance plan, which requires “strict adherence” to the FCC’s framework for caller ID authentication, according to a news release from the agency.

“Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the other end of the line is exactly who it says it is,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “If AI is used, it must be made clear to every consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is at stake.”

Steve Kramer, the former Democratic Party staffer who admitted to running the robocalls, also faces a $6 million fine from the FCC. He has also been charged with 26 misdemeanor and felony counts in New Hampshire for vote suppression and impersonating a candidate.

“This settlement is a major victory for election integrity, particularly for New Hampshire and its voters who were targeted,” New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.

“By holding Lingo Telecom accountable for its role in transmitting spoofed robocalls containing AI-generated messages, the FCC is sending a strong message that election interference and deceptive technology will not be tolerated,” he added.