Lingo Telecom fined $1 million for AI‑generated Biden voicemails

Lingo Telecom has recently faced public outcry due to its involvement in an AI-driven scandal. The fake voicemail messages, which sounded like President Joe Biden, were sent to voters, raising serious concerns about the manipulative use of AI. This incident became a deepfake and sparked a broad debate about the responsibility of tech companies and new regulations that could forever change how the telecommunications industry operates in the USA.

Lingo Telecom became the centre of a serious scandal after the company sent fake voicemail messages using Joe Biden's voice to voters in New Hampshire. The recording, created using AI voice generation technology, aimed to discourage voters from participating in the Democratic primaries in January.

The controversy erupted when it was revealed that the voice of the US president, which many recipients believed to be genuine, was a fake recording created by AI. Political consultant Steve Kramer was found to be responsible for this operation, causing a wave of outrage and prompting action from American regulators.

This incident sparked a wide-ranging debate about the ethics and regulations related to the use of AI technology, especially in sensitive areas like political elections. Lingo Telecom faced a serious challenge not only in terms of its image but also legally, forcing the company to take remedial steps.

Lingo Telecom has agreed to pay a one million-dollar fine as part of a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This penalty is a result of the company's actions, which allowed the dissemination of robocalls using the fake voice of Joe Biden. The settlement also includes an obligation to meet significantly stricter compliance requirements, including introducing stringent number authorization rules to prevent such situations.

The FCC has forced Lingo Telecom to comply with the "know your customer" rule, meaning that the company must now more diligently verify the information provided by its customers and suppliers. This step aims to prevent similar incidents in which telecommunications companies might be used to send manipulated messages, particularly those that could influence democratic processes.

Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman of the FCC, noted in an official statement that everyone has the right to be sure that the voice they hear in phone conversations is indeed who it claims to be. In this regard, the FCC will continue to monitor and respond to situations that could undermine trust in communication systems.