Artificial intelligence (AI)-generated voices utilized in unauthorized or automated robocalls have now been declared illegal in the United States, according to a recent decision made by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC issued a statement on February 8, announcing the unanimous adoption of a Declaratory Ruling that recognizes calls made with AI-generated voices as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
This ban by the FCC comes shortly after residents of New Hampshire received fake voice messages imitating U.S. President Joe Biden, advising against voting in the state’s primary election.
While robocall scams are already prohibited under the TCPA, the latest ruling will also make “voice cloning technology” used in these scams illegal. The FCC stated that this rule will be effective immediately.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel stated, “Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters. We’re putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice.”
The FCC initially proposed outlawing AI robocalls under the TCPA on January 31. This law, established in 1991, regulates automated political and marketing calls made without the recipient’s consent. Its primary purpose is to protect consumers from unwanted and intrusive communications, also known as “junk calls,” and to restrict telemarketing calls, as well as the use of automatic telephone dialing systems and artificial or pre-recorded voice messages.
In addition, FCC regulations mandate that telemarketers must obtain written consent from consumers before making robocalls. The new ruling will now hold AI-generated voices in calls to the same standards.
The FCC highlighted in its recent statement that AI-powered calls have been on the rise in recent years and cautioned that the technology now has the potential to deceive consumers with misinformation by imitating the voices of celebrities, political candidates, and close family members.
The FCC also noted that while law enforcement has been able to target the outcome of an unwanted AI-voice-generated robocall, such as the scam or fraud being perpetrated, the new ruling will enable law enforcement to take action against scammers simply for using AI to generate the voice in robocalls.
In related news, security researchers recently unveiled an AI audio attack that utilizes deepfake technology to hijack live conversations.
Meanwhile, the alleged scammer responsible for the Biden robocalls in mid-January has been traced back to a Texas-based firm called Life Corporation and an individual named Walter Monk.
The Election Law Unit has issued a cease-and-desist order to Life Corporation for violating the 2022 New Hampshire Revised Statutes Title LXIII on bribes, intimidation, and suppression.
The order demands immediate compliance, and the unit reserves the right to take further enforcement actions based on prior conduct.