June 5, 2025 — Concord, New Hampshire
In a case that underscores the growing concerns over the misuse of Artificial Intelligence in political campaigns, political consultant Steve Kramer is currently on trial in New Hampshire. Kramer faces 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonating a candidate, following allegations that he orchestrated AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice ahead of the state’s presidential primary.a
The Incident
On January 21, 2024, just two days before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary, thousands of voters received robocalls featuring a voice resembling President Biden. The message urged voters to “save your vote for the November election,” falsely suggesting that participating in the primary would preclude them from voting in the general election. The calls were designed to appear as though they originated from a local political figure, further adding to the deception
Kramer has admitted to commissioning the robocalls, stating that his intent was to highlight the potential dangers of AI in political misinformation, rather than to influence the election outcome . He reportedly paid $150 to a New Orleans-based magician and AI enthusiast to create the deepfake audio using ElevenLabs software .
Legal Ramifications
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has charged Kramer with multiple counts across four counties: Rockingham, Belknap, Grafton, and Merrimack. Each felony count of voter suppression carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years .washingtonpost.com+5doj.nh.gov+5wmur.com+5doj.nh.gov+3apnews.com+3wmur.com+3
In addition to state charges, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $6 million fine against Kramer for violating federal laws related to caller ID spoofing and unauthorized use of AI-generated voices in robocalls . Lingo Telecom, the company that transmitted the calls, has agreed to pay a $1 million fine and implement stricter caller ID authentication measures .apnews.com+3npr.org+3theverge.com+3apnews.com+5theverge.com+5theguardian.com+5
Broader Implications
This case marks one of the first major legal actions addressing the use of AI-generated deepfakes in political communication. The incident has prompted the FCC to clarify that using AI-generated voices in robocalls is illegal under existing law . The commission is also considering new regulations requiring political advertisers to disclose when AI-generated content is used in broadcast ads.npr.orgapnews.com
Election officials nationwide are increasingly concerned about the potential for AI to spread misinformation. Some states have begun implementing measures to combat deepfake robocalls, including public advisories and verification codes to authenticate official communications .a
Public Reaction
Voters who received the deceptive calls expressed outrage, emphasizing the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process. One recipient stated, “This is our right to vote, and it could have impacted things in the election—just terrible. So I think that needs to happen; it needs to be made clear that what he did was wrong, and we don’t want that to happen around our votes” .wmur.com
Conclusion
As the trial proceeds, it serves as a cautionary tale about the potential misuse of AI in democratic processes. The outcome may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, highlighting the need for clear regulations and ethical guidelines surrounding the use of AI in political campaigns.
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