Authorities in New Hampshire have identified the alleged culprit behind the deep fake robocalls that targeted New Hampshire Democrats during the primary election. The calls, which featured a fabricated President Biden urging voters to stay home on primary day, were traced back to the Texas-based Life Corporation. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced that his office will be launching a criminal investigation into the hoax. The Life Corporation, which specializes in telecom marketing, is owned by a man named Walter Monk.

During a press conference in Concord, Formella revealed that his team was able to trace the journey of a select group of these phone calls through the telecom system. He emphasized that they are committed to identifying and holding all individuals or companies responsible for these acts accountable. However, he did not disclose any potential motive behind the robocalls. The Attorney General's office is seeking additional information from entities that may have pertinent information, even if they are not directly responsible for the calls.

It is estimated that between 5,000 and 25,000 Granite State voters received the fake calls before the January 23 primary contest. Despite the attempt to discourage voters, approximately 125,000 voters ultimately participated in the Democratic primary, with Biden emerging as the winner through a write-in campaign. The AI-generated voice in the fake calls was heard saying, "Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday."

The robocalls were made amidst Democratic turbulence over the New Hampshire primary. The national party had decided to move its first-in-the-nation contest to South Carolina, but Granite State Democrats chose to ignore this shift in compliance with state law. Consequently, the Democratic National Committee is not expected to allocate delegates in New Hampshire. Biden, who wanted to secure a victory in the Granite State to avoid embarrassment as an incumbent, was unaffected by the calls and emerged as the winner.

Both Formella's team and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have issued cease-and-desist orders to Life Corporation, instructing the firm to halt any further conduct that could be deemed illegal. Formella also mentioned that his office is looking into another Texas-based company, Lingo Telecom, but did not provide further details. He warned that law enforcement across the country is unified and ready to combat any attempts to undermine elections, emphasizing that such actions will not be tolerated.

The use of AI technology to interfere with elections is a growing concern, and Formella described these robocalls as a clear and possibly the first known attempt of its kind in the United States. The investigation is still in its early stages, but the Attorney General wanted to send a strong message to discourage any further interference in this year's elections. Experts warn that the use of generative AI technology could lead to unprecedented election disinformation in 2024.

The Life Corporation's owner, Walter Monk, has not responded to requests for comment, and Alex Valencia, the chief compliance officer at Lingo Telecom, did not immediately provide a statement. The recorded message, which falsely suggested that voting in the primary would prevent voters from casting a ballot in the general election, was sent to thousands of recipients, appearing to come from the personal cellphone number of Kathy Sullivan, a former state Democratic Party chair involved with Granite for America, a super PAC supporting the Biden write-in campaign. At least 10 people who received the calls contacted Sullivan.

As the investigation progresses, New Hampshire authorities are determined to send a clear message that attempts to undermine the integrity of elections will face severe consequences. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies across the country highlights the commitment to protecting the democratic process.