Lingo Telecom fined €962,000 for AI‑generated Biden robocalls scandal

Lingo Telecom has recently been under public scrutiny due to its involvement in an artificial intelligence scandal. Fake voice messages that sounded like President Joe Biden were sent to voters, raising serious concerns about AI's manipulative use. This incident became a deepfake and prompted a broad discussion 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 voice 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 Party primaries in January.

Controversy erupted when it was revealed that the voice of the US President, which many recipients thought was genuine, was a fake recording created by AI. Political consultant Steve Kramer was found to be responsible for this operation, which caused a wave of outrage and provoked actions from American regulators.

This incident sparked a wide-ranging debate on the ethics and regulations related to the use of artificial intelligence, especially in sensitive matters such as political elections. Lingo Telecom faced a serious challenge not only in terms of its image but also legally, forcing the company to take corrective actions.

Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a hefty €927,000 fine as part of a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This fine is a result of the company's actions, which allowed the spread of robocalls with the fake voice of Joe Biden. The settlement also includes an obligation to comply with much stricter compliance requirements, including implementing rigorous number authorisation rules to limit such situations in the future.

The FCC imposed on Lingo Telecom the requirement to "know your customer," which means that the company must now more meticulously verify the information provided by its customers and suppliers. This step aims to prevent similar incidents in which telecommunications companies could be used to send manipulated messages, especially those that could affect democratic processes.

Jessica Rosenworcel, the chair of the FCC, emphasised in an official statement that everyone has the right to be assured that the voice they hear in phone conversations is indeed who they claim to be. In light of this, the FCC will continue to monitor and respond to situations that could undermine confidence in communication systems.