Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman’s campaign team has filed a complaint with the city Ethics Commission and the state Fair Political Practices Commission against an outside group backing Mayor Karen Bass, claiming its social media campaign promotes an interactive AI phone line with a voice falsely identified as that of Nithya Raman.
The ads are intended to promote the idea that Raman isn’t tough on homeless encampments, which Raman says misrepresents her position. People who call the number get a Raman sound-alike saying, “We’re bringing tent communities to your block. Would you prefer them outside your children’s school, the library or right outside your home?”
Raman’s campaign claims that Thrive LA broke campaign rules by failing to report the AI phone system on required campaign spending forms, and imitating Raman’s voice without stating who paid for it. Not disclosing that it’s an ad could lead voters to believe the AI voice is actually Raman, according to the complaint…