'Alarmed': Top Dem urges DOJ to probe NH robocall 'attempting to confuse' voters

A ranking Democratic House member is taking in response to a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden that urged New Hampshire Democratic supporters not to vote in the Tuesday, January 23 primary.

Politico's Kyle Cheney reports via X (formerly Twitter): JUST IN: @RepJoeMorelle, top Dem on the House Admin Committee — which oversees election administration — urges AG Garland and DOJ to investigate the robocall imitating Joe Biden’s voice that has been circulating in NH.

In the letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, US Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY) wrote, "According to the New Hampshire Department of Justice (*NHDOJ"), voters in New Hampshire received an Al-generated audio message that imitated the voice of President Biden and urged voters not to participate in the upcoming election.' NHDOJ determined that this inaccurate message appeared to be an unlawful attempt to disrupt the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election and to suppress New Hampshire volers."*

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The New York Democrat emphasized that he's "deeply concerned" about the potential subversive effects that artificial intelligence ("Al") generated content may have — indeed, is already having — on our elections. In particular, I am alarmed at the report that a party or parties unknown are attempting to confuse and disenfranchise New Hampshire voters using Al-generated robocalls in advance of the January 23, 2024, New Hampshire primary election."

Morelle emphasized, "To ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and in the hopes of preventing the spread Al-generated mis- and disinformation in future elections, I respectfully request that the United States Department of Justice begin investigating this matter immediately."

Read the full letter here.

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