FCC, In Declaratory Ruling, Makes AI-Generated Robocalls Illegal

WASHINGTON, DC — The Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling Thursday banning AI-generated robocalls in the United States.

All the members unanimously agreed upon the ruling and it takes effect immediately. Members of the commission recognized AI-generated voices as “artificial” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

The ruling comes just days after the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office identified Walter Monk of Life Corporation out of Arlington and-or Austin, Texas, a the suspect in a fake AI-Biden robocall which targeted registered Democrats and the former state chairwoman of the party before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary on Jan. 23.

Also Read

• Texas Man ID’d As Originator Of Illegal Biden-AI Robocalls: NH AG
• 'What A Bunch Of Malarky': NH Biden Write-in Effort Hit With Fake Call
• Misleading AI Generated Media Would Be Prohibited Under Bill
• Bosen: Trump Should Be Banned From November Ballot In NH

The FCC said the ruling made “voice cloning technology used in common robocall scams targeting consumers illegal.” It would give state attorneys general new tools to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls and crack down on scams, fraud, and misinformation, Jessica Rosenworcel, the chairwoman of the FCC, said.

“Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters,” she said. “We’re putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice.”

Officials said robocalls had escalated during the past few years as technology advanced, with the calls being used to confuse consumers with misinformation. The ruling expands legal avenues by which prosecutors can hold the source of the illegal calls accountable.

The FCC said it launched a “notice of inquiry” into the issue in November 2023 to find ways to combat junk calls. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act, officials said, was the primary law by which the commission could use. The commission said it restricts the making of telemarketing calls and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice messages.

Do you have a news tip? Email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.