Kathy Sullivan, a respected figure in New Hampshire Democratic circles and a former state party chair, has swiftly condemned the incident, labeling it as nothing short of "an attack on democracy." The call, marked by a dismissive "What a bunch of malarkey," a phrase associated with the 81-year-old president, discourages primary voting, suggesting Democrats reserve their votes for the crucial November election.
This unexpected development has prompted Sullivan, an attorney, to call for the prosecution of those responsible, citing potential violations of various laws. New Hampshire's attorney general, John Formella, has echoed Sullivan's sentiments, urging voters to disregard the call's contents.
The controversy surrounding the AI-generated robocall has escalated, with NBC News releasing a recording of the call. Sullivan's inclusion of a phone number in the message raises valid concerns about privacy and the possibility of harassment.
This incident adds fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the utilization of AI in political campaigns. Recently, OpenAI suspended the developer of a ChatGPT-powered bot named Dean.Bot, which mimicked Democratic candidate Dean Phillips, further intensifying the scrutiny of AI's role in shaping political narratives.
As worries about AI manipulation in elections reach new heights, advocacy groups like Public Citizen are pushing for federal regulation. A petition from Public Citizen specifically calls on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to regulate AI use in campaign ads. While FEC Chair Sean Cooksey acknowledged the issue, he hinted that resolving it might extend into early summer.
The emergence of deepfake calls and politician-impersonating chatbots has amplified calls for swift action to address the potential chaos AI could sow in elections. With state lawmakers contemplating bills to tackle this practice, the incident underscores the vulnerability of democratic processes to AI manipulation in a crucial election year.
In the broader context, this controversy highlights the need for robust safeguards against technological manipulation and raises questions about the intersection of AI and the democratic principles that underpin our electoral system. As the nation grapples with these challenges, vigilance and regulatory measures are essential to ensure the integrity of our democratic processes.
