Robocalls That Use AI-Generated Voices Now Illegal
Robocalls have long been a nuisance in society, but they gained notoriety when an AI-generated robocall mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged New Hampshire Democrats not to vote in the presidential primary. In response to this incident, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed that calls made with AI-generated voices should be recognized as artificial under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), effectively making them illegal. This proposal was unanimously adopted by the FCC on Thursday, February 8, leading to the formal prohibition of AI robocalls.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel stated in an FCC press release that bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters. She emphasized that this ruling would enable State Attorneys General to crack down on these scams, protecting the public from fraud and misinformation.
This ruling marks a significant step forward in addressing the pervasive issue of robocalls. Almost everyone with a phone has experienced the frustration caused by these calls, prompting the need for action. Under the TCPA, the FCC now has the authority to fine robocallers who employ AI-generated voices and block calls made by carriers who facilitate these robocalls. Moreover, individuals and organizations can now file lawsuits against AI robocallers in court.
In the past, it may have seemed doubtful that this ruling would have a substantial impact on the daily influx of robocalls, regardless of whether they were AI-generated or not. However, recent trends show a decline in robocalls, with scam calls decreasing even more rapidly.
A study conducted by the team behind the robocall-blocking app YouMail revealed that US consumers received just under 4.3 billion robocalls in January 2024. Although this figure is still substantial, it represents a 5.2% decrease from 4.5 billion robocalls in January 2023 and a 6.8% decrease from the monthly average of 4.6 billion in 2023.
Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, acknowledged the positive trend, stating that we’re starting to see a trend of overall lower robocall volumes. Despite some month-to-month volatility, the total volume of robocalls appears to be gradually declining.
The efforts to combat robocalls are undoubtedly a welcome development for consumers who have long endured the annoyance caused by these disruptive calls. It is hoped that with the implementation of this ruling, the prevalence of robocalls will continue to diminish, protecting individuals from fraudulent schemes and ensuring a more peaceful telephone experience for all.
