The League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit in federal court in New Hampshire on Thursday, targeting political consultant Steve Kramer and two Texas companies, Lingo Telecom and Life Corporation, for their involvement in sending AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden's voice to New Hampshire voters. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating state and federal laws and seeks fines and a ban on producing and distributing such deceptive calls without permission from those being impersonated.

The robocall in question, sent to thousands of voters on Jan. 21, falsely suggested that voting in the state's presidential primary would prevent them from casting ballots in November. Kramer, who orchestrated the call with the help of a magician and technology consultant, claimed he did it to raise awareness about the dangers of AI. However, attorneys representing the plaintiffs argue that the real intent was to suppress the vote and coerce voters into not participating in the election.

In response to the incident, the FCC has banned AI-generated robocalls, and major tech companies have agreed to take precautions to prevent AI tools from being used to disrupt elections. The League of Women Voters, along with other civic organizations, is now diverting resources to combat this new threat, impacting their efforts to educate and encourage voter participation.

Celina Stewart, chief counsel at the League of Women Voters, expressed frustration over the unnecessary chaos caused by the robocalls during the New Hampshire primary. She questioned whether organizations like the league and election workers should bear the burden of overcoming obstacles created by deceptive calls, emphasizing the need for action to prevent such disruptions in future elections.