US Bans AI Generated Voices from Robocalls After Biden Deepfake Scam

Due to the recent surge in AI-generated voice fraud, the United States has officially banned the use of artificially-generated voices in robocalls under its telemarketing laws. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision seeks to combat fraudulent robocall scams that exploit vulnerable individuals.

The FCC’s ruling, released on February 8, classifies calls made with AI-generated voices as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This designation gives state attorneys general a new tool to pursue perpetrators of illegal robocall campaigns. The move follows a fake robocall campaign in New Hampshire impersonating President Joe Biden and urging recipients not to vote in the state’s primary.

Although robocall fraud was already illegal under the TCPA, the new ruling explicitly prohibits the use of “voice cloning technology” used in AI-generated voice fraud. The ban goes into effect immediately and begins a crackdown on deceptive robocall practices.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the need to address the proliferation of AI-generated voice scams that target individuals through extortion attempts, celebrity impersonations, and misinformation campaigns. The ruling aims to protect consumers from fraudulent robocalls by holding perpetrators accountable for using AI to generate deceptive voices.

Enacted in 1991, the TCPA protects consumers from unsolicited telemarketing communications and limits automated calls without prior consent. The FCC’s decision extends these protections to AI-generated voice calls, ensuring that telemarketers obtain explicit consent before engaging in robocall activity.

The FCC’s action highlights the growing threat posed by AI-enabled robocalls and the urgent need for regulatory intervention. Authorities aim to protect consumers from fraudulent activity and preserve the integrity of telecommunications networks by banning AI-generated voices from robocalls.

In a related development, Texas-based Life Corporation and an individual named Walter Monk were implicated in the Biden robocall scam and a cease-and-desist order was issued by the Election Law Division. The order requires immediate compliance with state laws against bribery, intimidation and oppression, and means a broader crackdown on fraudulent robocall activity.

The FCC’s decisive action against AI-generated voice fraud is an important step in fighting fraudulent robocalls and protecting consumers from fraudulent activity in the telecommunications sector.