In New Hampshire, political consultant Steven Kramer has been acquitted of all charges related to AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice ahead of the 2024 presidential primary. The calls told voters that "It’s important that you save your vote for the November election," according to Boston.com.
Kramer faced 11 felony voter suppression charges and 11 candidate impersonation charges. His defense argued that the primary was a meaningless straw poll and not covered under the state’s voter suppression laws. The jury found him not guilty.
WMUR reports that New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella said the state remains committed to enforcing election laws and addressing challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Kramer admitted to paying $150 to a New Orleans magician to create the AI message, which he claimed was meant to highlight the lack of regulation around AI in political campaigns. Although acquitted, Kramer was fined $6 million by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a penalty he has refused to pay. Lingo Telecom, which carried the calls, settled for $1 million.
The FCC began drafting rules on AI during the Trump administration, recent federal actions, including a clause in a House tax bill, could limit state and local governments from regulating AI for the next ten years.
