- Judith Akatugba
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The Federal Communications Commission declared on Thursday that calls made using artificial intelligence (AI) voices are prohibited. This came after a phony robocall mimicking President Joe Biden attempted to discourage voters from supporting him in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire.
According to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, the declaratory order provides state attorneys general with additional resources to pursue the companies responsible for the robocalls.
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“Unsolicited robocalls with AI-generated voices are being used by scammers to mislead voters, extort vulnerable family members, and mimic celebrities. We’re sending a warning to the con artists making these robocalls,” Rosenworcel stated.
Though the new action deems the act of employing AI to construct a voice in these robocalls illegal in and of itself, the FCC highlighted that state attorneys general could previously target the outcome of an undesired robocall generated by AI.
Attorney General John Formella of New Hampshire revealed earlier this week that Life Corp., located in Texas, is the source of the phony Biden robocall. He added that Walter Monk’s company has received a cease-and-desist letter, and a criminal inquiry is underway.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks stated, “The use of generative AI has brought a fresh threat to voter suppression schemes and the campaign season with the heightened believability of fake robocalls.”
“Voice cloning,” according to the FCC, “can convince a called party that a trusted person, or someone they care about such as a family member, wants or needs them to take some action that they would not otherwise take.”
A $5.1 million fine issued on conservative activists for making over 1,100 illegal robocalls prior to the 2020 U.S. election was finally completed by the FCC in 2023.
Potential voters were warned in the calls that their “personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts,” in an attempt to dissuade them from casting a ballot by mail.
