Fact Check: "In September 2024, the Federal Communications Commission fined Steven Kramer $6 million for spoofing robocalls to appear as if they were coming from a prominent local Democrat."
What We Know
In September 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a fine of $6 million against Steven Kramer for orchestrating illegal robocalls that utilized a deepfake voice mimicking President Joe Biden. The calls were sent to voters ahead of the New Hampshire presidential primary and falsely suggested that participating in the primary would prevent them from voting in the general election. This fine was the first of its kind involving generative AI technology, highlighting the FCC's commitment to combating the misuse of such technologies in political communications (FCC Issues $6M Fine For N.H. Robocalls, FCC Issues $6M Fine for Bogus Biden Robocalls).
The robocalls were reportedly designed to appear as if they were coming from Kathy Sullivan, a prominent local Democrat and former state party chair, which further complicated the situation (Political consultant behind AI-generated Biden robocalls faces $6 million fine and criminal charges). Kramer has admitted to orchestrating these calls, which were sent to thousands of voters just days before the primary (FCC hits operative behind New Hampshire robocall with $6 million fine).
Analysis
The claim that the FCC fined Steven Kramer $6 million for spoofing robocalls is partially true. While it is accurate that the FCC issued a $6 million fine against Kramer, the assertion that the calls were spoofed to appear as if they were coming from a "prominent local Democrat" is misleading. The calls used a deepfake of President Biden's voice and were falsely attributed to Kathy Sullivan, but the primary focus of the fine was on the illegal use of AI technology to impersonate the President, rather than directly spoofing a local Democrat (FCC Proposes $6M Fine For N.H. Robocalls, Political operative who admitted to creating fake Biden robocalls faces $6 million fine).
The sources used in this analysis are credible, including official FCC documents and reputable news outlets such as the Associated Press and Government Technology. These sources provide a comprehensive overview of the events and the legal implications surrounding Kramer's actions. However, the framing of the claim could lead to misunderstandings about the nature of the offense and the individuals involved.
Conclusion
The verdict is Partially True. While the FCC did indeed fine Steven Kramer $6 million for his role in the robocalls, the claim's implication that the calls were specifically spoofed to appear as if they were from a prominent local Democrat is not entirely accurate. The focus of the fine was primarily on the use of a deepfake voice of President Biden, rather than the act of spoofing a local political figure.
