The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US has banned robocalls that use AI-generated voices. The move comes in response to an increase in robocalls that imitate the voices of celebrities and political candidates. The FCC stated that these calls have been used to extort vulnerable individuals, deceive voters, and impersonate public figures and family members. The agency’s decision grants state authorities the power to prosecute those responsible for these calls. The move follows an incident in which voters in New Hampshire received robocalls impersonating President Joe Biden, urging them not to vote in the state’s primary. The FCC’s action makes the use of AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal, expanding the legal avenues for holding perpetrators accountable. The agency’s decision comes after a letter from attorneys general in 26 states calling for restrictions on the use of AI in marketing phone calls. Deepfakes, which use AI to manipulate video or audio to create realistic but fake content, have become a global concern, particularly during election periods. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has warned about the threats posed by AI fakes to upcoming elections.
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