Bernie Moreno, the Republican candidate for the US Senate from Ohio, addressed an audience at a Columbus-area event earlier this year, stating, “I adhere to two principles. The first principle is that you are welcome to record anything I say, whether through video or audio. My statements to you today will be consistent with what I communicate to the media, in private conversations, and with my own team. The second principle is that I encourage you to pose challenging questions.”
Moreno, known for his ownership of several luxury car dealerships, has made comparable statements on the 2024 campaign trail on at least six occasions. Despite his claims of commitment to transparency, his campaign employs a device at events that mutes audio recordings and videos captured by ordinary voters. As his competition against three-term incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown tightens, the outcome of this closely contested race will play a crucial role in deciding which political party holds control of the US Senate.
The devices referred to as "anti-recording devices" can be purchased on Amazon for $399.99. They function by generating white noise and ultrasonic waves, which are detectable by recording equipment but typically inaudible to individuals present.
Moreno's choice to suppress recordings using the device may have been influenced by the backlash he faced regarding leaked audio in which he expressed his views on abortion. In late September, during an event, Moreno was captured on tape stating that it is "a little crazy" for suburban women to prioritize abortion as their primary concern at the polls, particularly for women over the age of 50, leading him to question, "I don’t think that’s an issue for you."
Business Insider initially reported on October 25 that Moreno's campaign was employing anti-recording devices to impede political trackers, who are compensated to monitor candidates' activities, from capturing Moreno's remarks. The campaign informed the publication that the device was "exclusively utilized against trackers, not against ordinary attendees of events."
Mother Jones has received information from an Ohio voter indicating that the device also compromised the audio quality of her recording during a mid-October event organized by Moreno in Ottawa County, Ohio. (It should be noted that the muffled audio is quite unpleasant to listen to.)
The voter, wishing to remain unidentified, expressed her intention to document the event for the benefit of a friend who was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. However, the recordings she captured resembled the sounds of an internet dial-up connection or the tuning of an old radio.
[source:motherjones]