The federal government outlawed robocalls that use voices generated by artificial intelligence, reports The Guardian. The unanimous ruling Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) targets robocalls made with AI voice-cloning tools under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The new ruling classifies AI-generated voices in robocalls as “artificial.” The agency has previously used the consumer law to clamp down on robocallers who interfered in elections by spreading false information.
The announcement comes as New Hampshire authorities investigate AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Biden’s voice to discourage people from voting in the primary last month. Effective immediately, the regulation empowers the FCC to fine companies that use AI voices in their calls or block the service providers that carry them. Those who break the law can face steep fines, maxing out at more than $23,000 per call, the FCC said. The law also gives call recipients the right to take legal action and potentially recover up to $1,500 in damages for each unwanted call. It gives state attorneys general a new mechanism to crack down on violators, according to the FCC. Bipartisan efforts in Congress have sought to regulate AI in political campaigns, but no federal legislation has passed, with the general election nine months away.