Deepfake audio of Biden alarms experts in lead-up to US elections

In the phone message, a voice edited to sound like Biden urged voters in New Hampshire not to cast their ballots in Democratic primary on Jan 23. — AFP

No political deepfake has alarmed the world’s disinformation experts more than the doctored audio message of US President Joe Biden that began circulating over the weekend.

In the phone message, a voice edited to sound like Biden urged voters in New Hampshire not to cast their ballots in Democratic primary on Jan 23. "Save your vote for the November election,” the phone message went. It even made use of one of Biden’s signature phrases: "What a bunch of malarkey.” In reality, the president isn’t on the ballot in the New Hampshire race - and voting in the primary doesn’t preclude people from participating in November's election.