Consultant Says He Commissioned Fake Biden Robocalls to Show Dangers of AI
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Steve Kramer, a political operative who formerly worked as a consultant for Rep. Dean Phillips’ (D-MN) presidential campaign, admitted to being behind the robocall impersonating President Joe Biden.
For Context: During the New Hampshire Democratic primary last month, reports emerged of apparent AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden, urging Democratic voters not to participate in the primary. The fake Biden voice reportedly said, “Republicans have been trying to push nonpartisan and Democratic voters to participate in their primary. What a bunch of malarkey,” adding, “Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.” In response to the calls, the Federal Communications Commission outlawed robocalls utilizing artificial intelligence to mimic voices earlier this month.
Details: Kramer claimed in an interview that he commissioned the AI robocall to call attention to the potential dangers of artificial intelligence as a political tool. He reportedly hired Paul Carpenter, a New Orleans street magician, to use an AI software to impersonate Biden’s voice reading a script written by Kramer.
Key Quotes: Kramer stated in an interview, “This is a way for me to make a difference, and I have. For $500, I got about $5 million worth of action, whether that be media attention or regulatory action.”
How the Media Covered It: Kramer’s explanation is being covered mostly in left- and center-rated outlets. Right-rated coverage is primarily focusing on Kramer’s connection to Phillips, who denounced the robocall scheme.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Democratic operative admits to commissioning fake Biden robocall that used AI
Steve Kramer, a veteran political consultant working for a rival candidate, acknowledged Sunday that he commissioned the robocall that impersonated President Joe Biden using artificial intelligence, confirming an NBC News report that he was behind the call.
In a statement and interview with NBC News, Kramer expressed no remorse for creating the deepfake, in which an imitation of the president’s voice discouraged participation in New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary. The call launched several law enforcement investigations and provoked outcry from election officials and watchdogs.
“I’m not afraid to testify, I...
From the Center
Veteran Democratic operative admits to being behind fake Biden robocall: Report
Steve Kramer, a veteran Democratic operative, admitted to being behind the fake robocalls of President Biden that were made to New Hampshire voters last month, according to a statement given to NBC News.
“The evening of Sunday, January 20th, 2 days before the New Hampshire primary, I sent out an automated call to 5,000 most likely to vote Democrats. Using easy to use online technology, an automated version of President Joe Biden’s voice was created,” Kramer said in a statement to NBC News.
NBC News first reported Friday that Kramer allegedly hired...
From the Right
Dean Phillips distances himself from campaign operative who reportedly paid $1 for AI-generated Biden deepfake
Longshot Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., is distancing himself from a report that one of his campaign's former consultants hired a magician to create a deepfake of President Biden urging New Hampshire voters not to participate in last month’s primary.
Paul Carpenter, a magician from New Orleans, came forward and said he had made the deepfake for $1 and that a Democratic consultant Steve Kramer had paid him $150 to do it, according to an NBC report. Kramer is a get-out-the-vote specialist who worked on ballot access for the...
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