Political Consultant Defies Court Order in Lawsuit Over AI Robocalls That Mimicked Biden

A political consultant named Steve Kramer has defied a federal court order in a lawsuit over artificial intelligence-generated robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice. Kramer, who orchestrated and admitted to sending thousands of these AI robocalls to New Hampshire Democrats ahead of the January 2024 primary, has refused to pay the $22,500 the court ordered to three voters who sued, despite a default judgment entered after he failed to appear in court.​

Background of the Robocalls

• The AI-generated calls used a cloned version of Joe Biden’s voice and urged recipients not to vote in the January primary, misleadingly claiming they should “save” their vote for November.​

• Kramer claimed his intention was to raise awareness about AI’s risks and the lack of regulation, rather than to suppress votes.

Court Actions and Judgment

• While Kramer was acquitted of criminal charges like voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, the civil case brought by the League of Women Voters resulted in a court order for him to pay $7,500 to each plaintiff and to refrain from similar conduct nationwide.​

• The League of Women Voters called the ruling a significant precedent against AI manipulation in elections.​

Kramer’s Defiance and Public Statements

• Kramer publicly announced he would not pay the damages, calling the lawsuit a publicity stunt and also refusing to pay a separate $6 million penalty imposed by the FCC.​

• He claimed the robocalls were meant as a wake-up call about the dangers of unregulated AI in political campaigns.

This case highlights growing concerns about the misuse of AI in elections and the current efforts to regulate deceptive practices using emerging technology.​

Courts and regulatory agencies can impose severe penalties for using AI to impersonate candidates’ voices in elections. In recent high-profile cases, courts have ordered individuals to pay significant civil damages to those harmed, and have issued nationwide bans against repeated conduct. In parallel, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the authority to fine violators up to millions of dollars under existing robocall and caller ID spoofing regulations; for example, $6 million fines have been issued in cases involving AI-driven robocalls mimicking political figures.​

Types of Penalties

• Civil penalties: Courts may award damages to individuals harmed by the robocalls, often thousands of dollars per plaintiff, and may issue injunctions preventing the defendant from similar future conduct.​

• FCC fines: The FCC can impose fines exceeding $23,000 per illegal robocall, particularly if AI voice deepfakes are used to deceive voters. Aggregate fines in major cases have reached $6 million for individuals and $2 million for telecom carriers that transmit unlawful calls.​

• Criminal charges: State prosecutors can file felony and misdemeanor charges such as voter suppression, impersonation of a candidate, and election interference. These may carry potential prison sentences and additional financial penalties, depending on state law.​

State Laws and Other Remedies

• Some states have specific laws targeting AI deepfakes in elections, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, possible imprisonment, and fines up to $10,000 per violation.​

• Courts may also order injunctive relief, which can include restraining orders or nationwide bans on the use of AI-generated voices in political campaigns.​

These penalties reflect growing concern about the impact of AI-generated disinformation in elections and the legal system’s evolving response to misuse.​