The FCC has made it illegal to interfere in an election with AI deepfake robocalls like the fakes of Joe Biden that targeted New Hampshire Democrats.
The AP reported:
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday outlawed robocalls that contain voices generated by artificial intelligence, a decision that sends a clear message that exploiting the technology to scam people and mislead voters won’t be tolerated.
…
Those who break the law can face steep fines, with a maximum of more than $23,000 per call, the FCC said. The agency has previously used the consumer law to clamp down on robocallers interfering in elections, including imposing a $5 million fine on two conservative hoaxers for falsely warning people in predominantly Black areas that voting by mail could heighten their risk of arrest, debt collection and forced vaccination.
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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.
The FCC ruling is more than a big fine and legal liability, State attorneys general now have a mechanism that they can use to prosecute these offenses.
None of this is expected to make election interference deep fake robocalls go away, but if they are attempted on a mass scale, there are now some tools in the toolbox for prosecution.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
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