FCC Declares AI-Generated Voices in Robocalls Illegal
The Federal Communications Commission rules that robocalls using artificial intelligence to clone voices are illegal under a 1991 law. The decision allows the agency to issue fines, block carrier networks, and empower victims to sue scammers.
The Federal Communications Commission rules that robocalls using artificial intelligence to clone voices are illegal under a 1991 federal law aimed at curbing junk calls. FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel states that bad actors are using AI-generated voices to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters. This decisive ruling puts fraudsters on notice and addresses the rapid rise of realistic audio technology.
This decision comes after a recent incident in New Hampshire where a robocall featured an AI-generated voice mimicking President Biden to discourage Democrats from voting before the state primary. Authorities identify a Texas telemarketer as the source of the deceptive call and open an investigation into illegal voter suppression. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission warns that AI voice cloning is increasingly used in family emergency scams to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
By classifying AI-generated voices as "artificial" under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the FCC gains the authority to fine violators and block the telephone companies that carry these fraudulent calls. The ruling also provides critical new legal pathways, enabling individual victims to sue robocallers and giving state attorneys general enhanced tools to prosecute bad actors.