FCC seeks to make AI-generated robocalls illegal

[highplainsdem]

Source: CNN

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking to make AI-generated robocalls illegal.

The agency’s announcement comes after a recent robocall with an AI voice resembling President Joe Biden targeted thousands of New Hampshire voters and as US officials brace for artificial intelligence to make it easier to spread disinformation in the 2024 election.

The FCC proposes making AI-generated calls illegal under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), saying it would make “voice cloning technology used in common robocalls scams targeting consumers illegal.”

“The rise of these types of calls has escalated during the last few years as this technology now has the potential to confuse consumers with misinformation by imitating the voices of celebrities, political candidates, and close family members,” the FCC said in a news release Wednesday. “By taking this step, the FCC will provide new tools to State Attorneys General across the country to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls and hold them accountable under the law.”

-snip-

Read more: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/02/01/politics/fcc-ai-generated-robocalls/index.html

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This is the press release from the FCC, full text since it's a government press release:

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-chairwoman-make-ai-voice-generated-robocalls-illegal

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-400212A1.txt

Media Contact:
Will Wiquist
[e-mail]

For Immediate Release

FCC CHAIRWOMAN: MAKE AI VOICE-GENERATED ROBOCALLS ILLEGAL
Agency Will Provide New Tools to State AGs to Go After Voice Cloning Scams
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WASHINGTON, January 31, 2024—FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today proposed that the FCC recognize calls made with AI-generated voices are “artificial” voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which would make voice cloning technology used in common robocalls scams targeting consumers illegal. The rise of these types of calls has escalated during the last few years as this technology now has the potential to confuse consumers with misinformation by imitating the voices of celebrities, political candidates, and close family members. By taking this step, the FCC will provide new tools to State Attorneys General across the country to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls and hold them accountable under the law.

“AI-generated voice cloning and images are already sowing confusion by tricking consumers into thinking scams and frauds are legitimate. No matter what celebrity or politician you favor, or what your relationship is with your kin when they call for help, it is possible we could all be a target of these faked calls,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “That’s why the FCC is taking steps to recognize this emerging technology as illegal under existing law, giving our partners at State Attorneys General offices across the country new tools they can use to crack down on these scams and protect consumers.”

In November, the FCC launched a Notice of Inquiry to build a record on how the agency can combat illegal robocalls and how AI might be involved. The agency asked questions on how AI might be used for scams that arise out of junk calls, by mimicking the voices of those we know, and whether this technology should be subject to oversight under the TCPA. Similarly, the FCC also asked about how AI can help us with pattern recognition so that we turn this technology into a force for good that can recognize illegal robocalls before they ever reach consumers on the phone.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act is the primary law the FCC uses to help limit junk calls. It restricts the making of telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice messages. Under FCC rules, it also requires telemarketers to obtain prior express written consent from consumers before robocalling them. If successfully enacted, this Declaratory Ruling would ensure AI-generated voice calls are also held to those same standards.

Earlier this month, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle A. Henry led a coalition of 26 State Attorneys General—more than half of the nation’s AGs—supporting this approach. By taking this step, the FCC is building on its work to establish partnerships with law enforcement agencies in states across the country to identify and eliminate illegal robocalls. The FCC currently has a Memorandum of Understanding with 48 State Attorneys General to work together to combat robocalls.

“My office supports the regulation of the use of artificial intelligence in robocalls under existing law, in order to protect consumers from intentionally deceptive and manipulative marketing tactics,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “We commend Chairwoman Rosenworcel for considering our input and taking this timely action to ensure consumers have the ability to provide prior written consent before receiving calls with A.I. technology serving as a live agent.”

###

Media Relations: [phone] / ASL: [phone] / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).

[XanaDUer2]

1. Kick and rec

[cstanleytech]

2. If AI can't copyright then it also can't have 1st amendment protection.

[orleans]

3. how can you tell the difference between A.I. robocalls

and the regular robo calls? (especially if the A.I. call is not mimicking someone's voice)

[Nictuku]

4. I think all robocalls should be illegal

Sick of them!

[eppur_se_muova]

5. I was just about to add that. No fundamental reason to defend them, they are a public nuisance.

Imagine that every time you walked anywhere you had salesmen jumping in front of you to give their sales pitch and you had to push past them -- any municipality would allow its police force to arrest such people as public nuisances. Robocalls tie up huge amounts of our national telecom infrastructure (25% according to the article at the link). Plus, they result in loss of personal productivity. Time to just outlaw the practice and the devices.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/spam-calls-still-a-major-problem-in-the-us-but-other-countries-have-it

[Nictuku]

7. Not to mention that many of them are scammers trying to steal from you (info or $)

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Do NOT say anything affirmative to an unknown caller.

They will prompt you by asking, “Can you hear me okay?” or “How are you doing today?” If they are recording the call and you say, “Fine,” “Okay,” “Mm hm,” or “Yes,” they can use a recording of your voice to do unauthorized things such as opening an account in your name — or even actual charges if they already have your account info.

The proper responses would be, “I can hear you,” or “Terrible. My back is killing me,” or a simple FU and hang up.

[FakeNoose]

8. Verizon and AT&T cold have stopped this more than 20 years ago

And yet ... here we are!

Just sayin'