A Democratic consultant, who allegedly used robocalls featuring a voice identical to that of President Joe Biden in order to discourage voter participation in the New Hampshire primary, has been indicted on 13 state felony voter suppression charges. In addition, the consultant could be facing potential federal fines amounting to $6 million, as reported by Law360.
This case highlights the increasing concerns over ‘deepfake’ tactics, which involve the use of artificial intelligence to mimic a person’s voice or appearance, a technique that has raised serious legal and ethical questions.
Moreover, these charges pose significant implications for future election processes and legal measures against technology-enhanced voter suppression strategies. The three key areas that legal practitioners may want to engage further with include understanding the legal parameters of deepfake technology and its use within elections, how voter suppression charges could impact political consultancy practices, and the broader implications for privacy laws and protection.