Criminal probe into AI calls impersonating Biden opens
Technology
A multistate task force is preparing for potential civil litigation against the company
(Web Desk) - New Hampshire’s attorney general announced a criminal investigation into a Texas-based company that was allegedly behind thousands of AI-generated calls impersonating President Biden in the run-up to the state’s primary election.
Attorney General John Formella (R) said in a news conference that his office also had sent the telecom company, Life Corp., a cease-and-desist letter ordering it to immediately stop violating the state’s laws against voter suppression in elections.
A multistate task force is also preparing for potential civil litigation against the company, and the Federal Communications Commission ordered Lingo Telecom to stop permitting illegal robocall traffic, after an industry consortium found that the Texas-based company carried the calls on its network.
Formella said the actions were intended to serve notice that New Hampshire and other states will take action if they find AI was used to interfere in elections.
“Don’t try it,” he said. “If you do, we will work together to investigate, we will work together with partners across the country to find you, and we will take any enforcement action available to us under the law. The consequences for your actions will be severe.”
New Hampshire is issuing subpoenas to Life Corp., Lingo Telecom and other individuals and entities that may have been involved in the calls, Formella said.
Life Corp., its owner Walter Monk and Lingo Telecom did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
