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In a recent announcement on January 31, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has put forth a proposal to classify calls featuring artificial intelligence (AI)-generated voices as illegal. The regulations and penalties outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a 1991 law governing automated political and marketing calls made without the recipient’s consent, would be applied to combat AI-driven robocalls.
This move comes in response to a recent incident where AI-generated messages, imitating the voice of U.S. President Joe Biden, delivered false advice to New Hampshire residents, discouraging them from participating in the state’s primary election. The automated messages were part of an attempt to manipulate the 2024 presidential election, leading the state’s attorney general’s office to denounce the calls as misinformation.
The proposed ban by Rosenworcel aims to address the growing issue of robocalls, a practice regulated by the TCPA to protect consumers from unsolicited and intrusive communications, including telemarketing calls and automated messages.
The prevalence of such calls has increased significantly in recent years, with technology enabling scammers to mimic the voices of celebrities, political figures, and even family members, deceiving unsuspecting consumers.
If implemented, this proposal would provide state attorneys general across the country with additional tools to pursue those responsible for malicious AI-driven robocalls and enforce legal consequences.
In November 2023, the FCC initiated a Notice of Inquiry, seeking information on combating illegal robocalls and the potential involvement of AI. The inquiry specifically focused on understanding AI’s role in scams, including the replication of familiar voices, and whether such technology should fall under the regulation of the TCPA. The FCC also sought insights into the positive applications of AI, such as recognizing and preventing illegal robocalls.
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