The FCC bans robocalls with AI-generated voices

The Federal Communications Fee is making it unlawful for robocalls to make use of AI-generated voices. The ruling, issued on Thursday, provides state attorneys common the flexibility to take motion in opposition to callers utilizing AI voice cloning tech.

As outlined within the ruling, AI-generated voices at the moment are thought-about “a man-made or prerecorded voice” below the Phone Client Safety Act (TCPA). This restricts callers from utilizing AI-generated voices for non-emergency functions or with out prior consent. The TCPA contains bans on a wide range of automated name practices, together with utilizing an “synthetic or prerecorded voice” to ship messages, nevertheless it wasn’t explicitly acknowledged whether or not this included AI-powered voice cloning. The brand new ruling clarifies that these recordings ought to certainly fall below the regulation’s scope.

“Unhealthy actors are utilizing AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort susceptible relations, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stated in an announcement. “State Attorneys Normal will now have new instruments to crack down on these scams and make sure the public is protected against fraud and misinformation.”

Though state attorneys common may already go after the unhealthy actors behind robocalls primarily based on the rip-off or fraud they’re perpetrating, this new ruling provides them the facility to carry rip-off artists accountable solely as a result of they’re utilizing an AI-generated voice. The FCC first proposed banning the usage of AI voices in robocalls final month.

Scrutiny of AI voices in robocalls has ramped up in latest weeks. In January, some New Hampshire residents obtained a name that appeared to make use of AI to impersonate President Joe Biden’s voice, and it advised them to not present up on the polls for the state’s presidential main. An investigation has since linked the robocall to 2 Texas-based corporations: Life Company and Lingo Telecom. The FCC issued a cease-and-desist order to Lingo Telecom, which transmitted the decision.