FCC Chair proposes outlawing AI robocalls

The proposal by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel aims to prohibit robocall scams under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a 1991 law regulating automated political and marketing calls made without the receivers’ consent.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has made a proposal considering calls featuring AI-generated voices as illegal, subject to the regulations and penalties outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in a Jan. 31 announcement. 

The announcement by the FCC Chairwoman follows a false message generated using artificial intelligence (AI) to imitate President Joe Biden’s voice, advising New Hampshire residents against voting in the state’s primary election.

The automated messages featuring President Joe Biden’s voice were generated to meddle in the 2024 presidential election. However, the state’s attorney general’s office denounced the calls as misinformation.

The proposal aims to prohibit such robocalls under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a United States 1991 law regulating automated political and marketing calls made without the receivers’ consent. The primary goal of the TCPA is to protect consumers from unwanted and intrusive communications, such as unsolicited telemarketing calls and automated messages.

Today we announced a proposal to make AI-voice generated robocalls illegal – giving State AGs new tools to crack down on voice cloning scams and protect consumers. https://t.co/OfJUZR0HrG

— The FCC (@FCC) January 31, 2024

The increase in these calls has surged in recent years, with technology now capable of misleading consumers by mimicking the voices of celebrities, political figures, and even family members.

By implementing this proposal, the FCC will equip State Attorneys General nationwide with additional resources to pursue those responsible for these malicious robocalls and enforce legal consequences.

In November, the FCC initiated a Notice of Inquiry to gather information on addressing illegal robocalls and the potential involvement of AI. The agency inquired about AI’s role in scams, mimicking familiar voices, and whether it should be regulated under the TCPA. Additionally, the FCC sought insights into how AI can be utilized positively, such as recognizing and preventing illegal robocalls.

Related: AI deepfakes fool voters and politicians ahead of 2024 US elections — ‘I thought it was real’

The White House released a fact sheet with its key actions on AI on Jan. 29, three months after the release of President Joe Biden’s executive order. The fact sheet noted “substantial progress” toward the president’s mandate to “protect Americans from the potential risks of AI systems.”

Deepfakes have increased worries about AI-generated content, and the World Economic Forum highlighted the adverse outcomes of AI technologies in its 19th Global Risks Report. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canada’s primary national intelligence agency, also raised concerns about the disinformation campaigns conducted across the internet using AI deepfakes.

United States lawmakers have urged for legislation criminalizing the production of deepfake images following the widespread circulation of explicit fake photos of Taylor Swift.