In a shocking turn of events, the 2024 US election faces potential interference as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven robocalls, mimicking the voice of President Joe Biden, urge Americans not to participate in the upcoming presidential primary. The deceptive messages, beginning with Biden’s signature phrase, ‘What a bunch of malarkey,’ are escalating concerns about the influence of deepfake technology on electoral processes.

Over the weekend, a robocall circulated, instructing recipients to withhold their votes in the primary, asserting that casting ballots on the specified Tuesday would only serve the Republican agenda to re-elect Donald Trump. New Hampshire, hosting the country’s first primary election, swiftly responded, with the attorney general’s office declaring the robocall as likely ‘artificially generated’ and a blatant attempt to disrupt the electoral process.

The incident underscores the real-world impact of deep fake audio or video, a phenomenon feared by political and disinformation experts. Robert Weissman, president of the government watchdog group Public Citizen, emphasised the urgency for policymakers to implement safeguards, warning of potential electoral chaos.

The misleading robocall, attributed to AI manipulation, could significantly affect voter behaviour and turnout, particularly in critical contests like the New Hampshire primary. With the field narrowed down to former President Donald Trump and former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, the primary outcome holds substantial implications for the GOP nomination. Experts suggest that if Trump secures over 50% of the vote, his nomination is all but assured, while Haley aims to achieve an upset or come close in percentage points.

The danger lies in the potential misinformation spread by the fake Biden robocall, leading people to believe that voting in the primary would only benefit Trump and discouraging their participation. Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, expressed active discussions on immediate actions to address the issue.

Despite speculation, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign vehemently denied any involvement in the robocalls, stating, ‘Not us – we have nothing to do with it.’ Last year, several states enacted laws addressing AI and deepfake-related challenges in campaigns, and lawmakers are actively drafting bills to regulate AI-generated political content.

The potential use of AI to manipulate voters has raised deep concerns among political figures. A spokesperson for Minnesota Rep Dean Phillips, challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination, labelled the prospect as ‘deeply disturbing’ and emphasised that any effort to discourage voters is an affront to democracy. The Department of Justice’s Election Law Unit is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into the AI-generated Biden robocall, further highlighting the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the electoral process from such deceptive tactics.