Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alamy Stock Photo

US state investigates artificial voice message impersonating Joe Biden ahead of election

The fake voice message pretended to be the Democratic president telling voters to wait until November to vote.

A US STATE is investigating a voice message making false claims about election voting that appears to have been artificially generated and made to sound like President Joe Biden. 

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has revealed that it has received complaints about a recorded message telling them not to vote in the state’s primary presidential election tomorrow.

The message says that votes make a difference in November (in the race between the final candidates) but not now (in the primary elections where each party selects its candidate).

In a statement, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said that “although the voice in the robocall sounds like the voice of President Biden, this message appears to be artificially generated based on initial indications”.

“The message appears to have been ‘spoofed’ to falsely show that it had been sent by the treasurer of a political committee that has been supporting the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary write-in efforts for President Biden,” the Office’s statement said.

“The message’s content directed recipients who wished to be removed from a calling list to call the number belonging to this person.”

The Office said the messages appear to be an unlawful attempt to disrupt New Hampshire’s primary presidential election and to suppress voters in the state, urging voters to disregard the content of the message.

“Voting in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election does not preclude a voter from additionally voting in the November General Election,” the Office clarified.

The Office’s Election Law Unit is investigating the message.

New Hampshire, along with Iowa, is traditionally one of the first states to hold its primaries, where Democrats and Republicans vote for which potential candidate they want to see represent their parties in the presidential race.

Artificial generation software that can create fake images, videos and sounds that resemble real people are a significant concern ahead of many important elections due to be held around the world this year, including presidential elections in both the US and Russia and EU elections in June.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
Lauren Boland
View 35 comments
Close
35 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds