The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a significant step in the fight against robocalls by banning the use of AI-generated voices in such calls. This new ruling, issued on Thursday, empowers state attorneys general to take action against scammers utilizing AI voice cloning tools in their robocalls.
According to the ruling, AI-generated voices are now classified as ‘an artificial or prerecorded voice’ under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This means that callers are prohibited from using AI-generated voices for non-emergency purposes or without prior consent. The ruling aims to curb various automated call practices, including the delivery of messages using AI-powered voice cloning, which had not been explicitly addressed in the TCPA before. The clarification provided by the new ruling ensures that such recordings are encompassed by the law’s scope.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the need for this ruling, stating, ‘Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters. State Attorneys General will now have new tools to crack down on these scams and ensure the public is protected from fraud and misinformation.’
Prior to this ruling, state attorneys general could pursue perpetrators of robocalls based on the specific scam or fraud being perpetrated. However, the new ruling now grants them the authority to hold scam artists accountable solely for the use of AI-generated voices. The FCC had initially proposed the ban on AI voices in robocalls last month, and the recent ruling solidifies this proposal.
The scrutiny of AI voices in robocalls has intensified in recent weeks, particularly following an incident in which some New Hampshire residents received a call that purported to use AI to impersonate President Joe Biden’s voice, advising them not to show up at the polls for the state’s presidential primary. Subsequent investigations linked the robocall to two Texas-based companies: Life Corporation and Lingo Telecom. In response, the FCC issued a cease-and-desist order to Lingo Telecom, the company responsible for transmitting the call.
