On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced an immediate ban on fraudulent robocalls using synthetic, AI-generated voices, targeting the increasing use of “deepfake” technology that poses risks to election integrity and could escalate fraud activities.
In a unanimous decision, the FCC expanded its anti-robocall regulations to include these AI deepfake voice calls, categorizing them as “artificial” according to the federal statutes that regulate telemarketing and automated calls.
This regulatory update empowers state attorneys general with enhanced capabilities to prosecute those employing AI to create voice simulations that deceive Americans, as per the FCC’s statement.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel highlighted the threat posed by these AI voice scams, including their use to exploit individuals, impersonate public figures, and spread misinformation among voters. The FCC aims to deter these fraudulent activities with its recent ruling.
The adaptation of the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to encompass AI-voice calls follows incidents like the deceptive robocall mimicking President Joe Biden, which aimed to suppress voter turnout in New Hampshire’s primary, traced back to a Texas individual and associated entities under investigation.
The FCC mandates that entities must secure explicit consent before disseminating robocalls utilizing AI-generated or prerecorded voices, aligning penalties for misuse of deepfake technology with those for traditional illegal robocalling.
This move, considered significant by experts like Andrew Schwartzman from Georgetown University Law School, provides the FCC with additional mechanisms to combat such malpractices, although it’s not seen as a complete solution to halt all fraudulent actors.
The FCC’s crackdown is part of a broader effort, including potential disconnection of phone providers facilitating illegal robocalls from the national network, signaling a concerted effort by state and federal entities to tackle the surge in robocall fraud, which remains a major concern with billions of such calls being made annually in the U.S.
