The calls were misidentified as coming from Kathy Sullivan, a former state Democratic Party chair who runs Granite for America, a super PAC that supported the Biden write-in campaign. Formella claimed at least 10 callers phoned Sullivan.
Monday's investigators' quickness and effort impressed Sullivan. “Anyone who tries to suppress the vote in a democracy is a disgrace,” she emailed.
This apparent voter suppression utilizing fast expanding generative AI technology is one example of what experts predict will be a year of extraordinary election misinformation worldwide in 2024.
“Disinformation aimed at suppressing voting and deliberately undermining free and fair elections is an unacceptable threat, and we commend the New Hampshire Attorney General for taking the matter seriously and moving quickly as a powerful example against further attempts to disrupt democratic elections,” campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez said.
The FCC's cease-and-desist letter to Lingo Telecom stated that the investigation involved working with the Industry Traceback Group, a consortium of telecom and broadband industry service providers that can trace calls to their source, even if they were “spoofed” to look like they came from someone else.
The letter stated that Lingo Telecom identified Life Corporation as the caller after identifying itself as the initial provider. After learning of the probe, Lingo Telecom halted Life Corporation services, according to New Hampshire officials.
Josh Bercu, executive director of the Industry Traceback Group, said the group investigated and found the call source within four hours. He declined to discuss the matter.
Formella said charges might be made under New Hampshire's voter suppression legislation, a felony punishable by seven years in jail, or the Truth in Caller ID Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Each can result in thousands of dollars in fines. Last week, the FCC recommended criminalizing uninvited AI-voiced robocalls.
He said the inquiry is only beginning but wants to convey a strong message to discourage electoral interference this year. “Our message is clear: Law enforcement across the country is unified bipartisanly and ready to combat any attempt to undermine our elections,” he added.
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