In a decisive move, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has declared calls utilizing AI-generated voices illegal. This announcement came following a disturbing incident where a fake robocall impersonating President Joe Biden circulated, urging individuals not to vote for him in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary election.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the necessity of this ruling, stating, “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.”
Prior to this ruling, state attorneys general had limited options in targeting entities responsible for unwanted AI-voice-generated robocalls. However, with this new directive, the very act of utilizing AI to fabricate voices for such calls is deemed unlawful.
The recent incident involving a fabricated Biden robocall traced back to Texas-based Life Corp, led by Walter Monk, prompted swift action. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella confirmed initiating a criminal investigation and issuing a cease-and-desist letter to the company.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks voiced concerns over the emergence of “voice cloning,” which he described as a potent tool for executing voter suppression schemes during campaign seasons.
The FCC’s crackdown on such deceptive practices isn’t unprecedented. In 2023, the agency imposed a hefty $5.1 million fine on conservative activists responsible for over 1,100 illegal robocalls before the 2020 U.S. election. These calls aimed to deter voting by falsely claiming that voting by mail would result in personal information being made public and used by law enforcement and creditors.
With the FCC’s latest ruling, there’s a renewed hope for curbing the proliferation of fraudulent robocalls that exploit AI technology to deceive and manipulate unsuspecting recipients.
In light of these developments, it’s evident that regulatory bodies are ramping up efforts to safeguard the integrity of communication channels and protect citizens from malicious actors seeking to undermine democratic processes.
