The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is pushing to outlaw AI-powered robocalls due to the increasing threat posed by voice-cloning technology scams.
Jessica Rosenworcel, the head of the FCC, raised concerns about the potential of machine-learning software to deceive individuals into falling for fraudulent schemes, such as donating to fake causes.
While traditional scams involve human perpetrators, the use of AI to mimic celebrities and others in mass spam calls for the purpose of defrauding unsuspecting individuals with convincing tactics is particularly alarming.
Recently, residents in New Hampshire experienced a deceptive robocall impersonating President Joe Biden, advising them not to vote in the state’s Presidential primary election in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.
Rosenworcel emphasized the disruptive impact of AI-generated voice cloning and images, highlighting how these technologies can mislead consumers into believing that scams and frauds are legitimate. She emphasized the need for regulatory action to combat this emerging threat and protect consumers from falling victim to such deceptive practices.
The FCC is advocating for the criminalization of AI voice cloning technology in robocall scams under the existing 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act. This legislation mandates that telemarketers must obtain explicit consent from individuals before utilizing automated calls featuring “an artificial or prerecorded” voice, a requirement that Rosenworcel believes should extend to AI-generated robocalls as well.
In line with these efforts, House Representative Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) introduced the Do Not Disturb Act, which aims to compel telemarketers to disclose the use of AI in crafting automated messages for text messages or phone calls. The proposed legislation also addresses penalties for telemarketers engaging in impersonation and seeks to close loopholes in robocall regulations by encompassing text messages and AI-generated content.
Government officials, including Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Michelle Henry and a coalition of 25 attorneys general from various states, have expressed support for the FCC’s initiatives. They argue that AI-generated voices should be classified as artificial voices, thus falling under the protection of the TCPA against robocall scams employing voice cloning technologies.
The bipartisan coalition underscores the importance of regulating these technological advancements to prevent their exploitation for deceptive practices that could harm consumers inundated with illegal robocalls and text communications.
