New Hampshire Scrambles to Address Election Tampering: A Deepfake Dilemma

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office is currently embroiled in a high-stakes investigation. 

This probe was triggered by a series of deceptive robocalls, purportedly from President Joe Biden, attempting to dissuade voters from participating in the January 23 New Hampshire primary. 

These calls have raised significant concerns about election integrity and the emerging threat of technological misuse in political arenas.

Attorney General John Formella’s office has been inundated with complaints from voters who received these calls. 

The robocalls featured a convincing imitation of President Biden’s voice, leading recipients to believe that the message was authentic. 

However, it was soon revealed that these calls were not from the White House. Instead, they were created using advanced voice imitation technologies. 

“The message appears to have been spoofed to falsely show that it had been sent by the treasurer of a political committee that has been supporting the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary write-in efforts for President Biden,” Attorney General Formella stated.

The Sinister Side of Technology in Politics

This incident is more than just a prank; it represents a potentially illegal attempt to undermine the democratic process. 

“These messages appear to be an unlawful attempt to disrupt the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election and to suppress New Hampshire voters,” Formella added, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The investigation by the Election Law Unit is still ongoing, with the perpetrators and their motives remaining unknown.

The content of the robocall is particularly noteworthy. 

It begins with the phantom President Biden declaring, “What a bunch of malarkey,” a phrase often associated with the 81-year-old. 

The message then misleadingly advises voters to “save your vote for the November election” and suggests that participating in the Tuesday primary would inadvertently support Republican efforts to re-elect Donald Trump. 

This message blatantly contradicts the principles of democratic participation and seeks to confuse voters about their electoral rights.

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Collateral Damage and Election Interference

The call also wrongly includes the personal number of Kathy Sullivan, a significant figure in New Hampshire’s Democratic circles and a leader in Granite for America, a Super PAC supporting President Biden. 

Sullivan, in her interaction with the media, expressed her dismay at being unknowingly linked to this scheme. 

“This call links back to my cellphone number without my permission,” she said, denouncing the act as election interference and a tactic to harass her and other voters.

Attorney General Formella has advised New Hampshire residents to completely disregard the content of these fraudulent messages. 

He clarified, “Voting in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election does not preclude a voter from additionally voting in the November General Election.” 

Additionally, the Department of Justice Election Law Unit is urging anyone who received this call to report it, providing details like the date and time of the call, its content, and any other relevant information.

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AI’s Role in Political Disruption

This incident in New Hampshire is part of a larger trend where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in politics, sometimes in ethically questionable ways. 

For example, the Republican National Committee previously aired an ad using AI to create a dystopian future under President Biden’s continued leadership. 

This ad featured fabricated images of dire scenarios, including deserted streets and military patrols.

Another recent case involved a developer who created an AI-powered bot impersonating presidential candidate Dean Phillips. 

The bot was promptly shut down by OpenAI for violating policies against political campaigning and impersonation.

Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, has called for urgent policy action to address these emerging challenges. 

“The political deepfake moment is here.” 

“Policymakers must rush to put in place protections or we’re facing electoral chaos,” he warned, emphasizing the potential for deepfakes to cause confusion and perpetrate fraud.

As the New Hampshire case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated ways deepfakes and AI can be used to manipulate political processes and the urgent need for regulatory measures to safeguard democratic institutions.

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