The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated an endeavor to understand the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on robocalls and robotexts while strengthening regulations safeguarding cellular network users.
The ramifications of AI remain significant, prompting the FCC’s interest in how this technology could exacerbate the prevalence of robocalls and robotexts, which are considered a contemporary telecommunications nuisance. The FCC is specifically keen on exploring the dual-sided impact of AI on users, both in a positive and negative light.
Amid the prevalent doomsday predictions often associated with technological advancements, the FCC welcomes a more optimistic outlook. Deliberations are underway within the FCC on the potential of AI analytics to more efficiently thwart unwanted calls and texts, thereby potentially reinstating trust in telecommunications networks. Such advancements would undoubtedly be a welcome relief for individuals tired of incessant calls from purported Microsoft experts or unsolicited messages concerning unrelated injuries, offering a viable alternative to simply resorting to the block feature.
Nevertheless, these discussions also shed light on the concerns that the FCC harbors regarding the misuse of AI by malicious entities to deceive consumers through deceptive texts that appear legitimate. With just a brief training session, AI can now replicate the voices of individuals, while companies like Microsoft are actively developing text-to-speech models capable of mimicking specific voices, complete with intonations.
Despite being in the preliminary stages of the Notice of Inquiry concerning AI, the FCC is proactively taking measures to safeguard the cellular accounts of US consumers. By law, cellular providers are mandated to promptly inform customers in the event of a SIM change or port-out request.
Criminals exploit tactics like SIM swapping to persuade mobile carriers to transfer the victim’s service to the perpetrator’s device. Similarly, port-out fraud involves impersonating the victim to establish a new account with a different carrier and subsequently transferring the victim’s phone number to the fraudulent account. Notably, both fraudulent schemes do not necessitate physical access to the victim’s device for successful account takeover.
In anticipation of redirecting numbers to new services or devices, the FCC is considering regulatory adjustments that would require secure methods for customer identification.
The FCC’s vigilance against communication scams is mirrored by other entities in the industry. Notably, in 2021, the UK government introduced the Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter as a voluntary initiative to combat illicit activities in the market, encompassing practices like SIM swapping and port-out fraud.
