FCC Considers Allowing More Political Robocalls Before Midterms, Including Those Created with AI
Consumer groups warn the change could unleash a surge of unwanted calls, while supporters say it would improve outreach and polling accuracy.
- The Federal Communications Commission is weighing a request from The Club for Growth to permit AI-generated political robocalls before November's midterm elections, with a decision possible as soon as late October.
- Current federal law prohibits most unsolicited robocalls to cellphones without prior consent, though The Club for Growth argues these rules are outdated and dampen freedom of speech.
- Critics warn the change could trigger an AI misinformation surge during Election Day's final stretch, with Tim Harper of the Washington-based Center for Democracy and Technology cautioning that such a ruling opens 'a huge opportunity for abuse during a period where harm has outsized impact.'
- Commissioner Ana Gomez opposed the move, saying it would create 'a tsunami of robocalls and misinformation,' though if granted, the waiver would require callers to allow consumer opt-outs and limit calls to three within 30 days.
- Past incidents, including the 2024 New Hampshire robocall mimicking President Joe Biden, highlight existing risks, as Mekela Panditharatne of the Brennan Center warned that AI agents could manipulate voters or repurpose personal data.
116 Articles
116 Articles
AI-generated political robocalls could flood your phone if FCC green-lights petition
TL;DR The FCC currently has rules in place restricting both unsolicited political robocalls, and those created with AI. It’s not facing a petition that would grant a special exemption, targeting upcoming midterms. One Commissioner warns this could hit people with a “a tsunami of robocalls.” How much do you love the FCC under the current administration? When the agency’s not banning our favorite robot vacuums, or drones, or the routers we need t…
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naturalnews.comFCC Weighs Loosening Political Robocall Rules Ahead of Midterms, Including AI-Generated Voices
The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has advanced a petition to allow political robocalls for public comment, and a ruling could come as soon as late October [1][2]. According to analytics firm reports, the proposal comes just weeks before Americans head to the polls for the Nov. 3 midterm elections [3] [10]. Background: Robocall Rules and Prior AI Misuse […]
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