Magistrate Judge to Consider Motion for Injunction vs. N.H. Robocallers

U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe for New Hampshire designated U.S. Magistrate Judge Talesha Saint-Marc to consider the League of Women Voters’ request for a preliminary injunction to block three defendants from repeating their illegal AI-generated robocalls before the November election (see 2404290016), said McAuliffe’s text-only order Wednesday (docket 1:24-cv-00073). McAuliffe authorized Saint-Marc to conduct a hearing on the request, if necessary, and to file her proposed findings and recommendations with the court, said the order. The league alleges that defendants Steve Kramer, broadband provider Lingo Telecom and robocall broadcaster Life Corp. sent thousands of robocalls two days before the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary to people they thought were likely Democratic voters, featuring deepfake simulations of President Joe Biden's voice (see 2403150034). The injunction would also bar the defendants from distributing spoofed phone calls, text messages or any other form of spoofed communication. It would also block them from distributing phone calls, text messages or other mass communications that don’t comply with all applicable state and federal laws “or that are made for an unlawful purpose.” Lingo and Life oppose the injunction and have attempted to pin the blame for January’s robocalls on Kramer, a political operative who hasn’t yet answered the original complaint or the motion for injunctive relief.