The Federal Communications Commission is not the only entity seeking to criminalize the use of artificial intelligence in the area of robocalls. A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would require callers to disclose when artificial intelligence is being used and increases the penalties for using AI to impersonate individuals. The bill is part of larger package of bills that is being spearheaded by Rep. Frank Pallone [D-N.J.].
The Who: The bill, H.R. 7123, was introduced by Rep. Eric Sorensen [D-Ill.] and was cosponsored by three Republicans — Rep. Juan Ciscomani [R-Ariz.], Rep. Anthony D’Esposito [R-N.Y.], and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick [R-Penn.].
The What: The bill is called the Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications (QUIET) Act. If a person making a robocall uses artificial intelligence to emulate a human, a disclosure will need to be made at the start of the call or text message informing the recipient that AI is being used.
- The bill also doubles the penalty for violators found to be using AI to send text messages or make phone calls that impersonate individuals with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value.
The Last Word: “These scammers are getting better at tricking seniors and working families into handing over billions of dollars in theft and fraud each year,” said Rep. Sorensen in a statement. “My QUIET Act cracks down on bad actors using technology to impersonate human voices, so we can better protect our neighbors and loved ones. To keep Americans safe, we need to stay one step ahead of these criminals.”
