The agency unanimously adopted a ruling recognizing AI-generated voices as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which restricts telemarketing calls and the use of artificial or prerecorded voice messages.
The law gives the FCC the ability to fine robocallers and block calls from telephone carriers facilitating illegal robocalls, the agency noted in a press release. It also allows consumers and organizations to sue robocallers.
“It seems like something from the far-off future, but it is already here,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “Artificial Intelligence-generated voice cloning and image creating tools are now more accessible and more likely to be used for fraud.”
“This technology can confuse us when we listen, view, and click, because it can trick us into thinking all kinds of fake stuff is legitimate,” she continued.
Rosenworcel pointed to several recent incidents, including the circulation of explicit AI-generated photos of pop superstar Taylor Swift last month and the AI version of actor Tom Hanks that promoted a dental plan online last fall.
She also appeared to reference the fake Biden call, citing “calls from candidates for political office that are designed to confuse us about where and when to vote.”
Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.
