A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives this week that would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that systems generated by artificial intelligence are subject to the same rules and regulations as traditional telephone-based systems when it comes to robocalls. The bill, called the Creating Legal and Ethical AI Recordings (CLEAR) Voices Act, was introduced by Rep. Rick Allen [R-Ga.].
There isn’t much to the bill itself. All it requires is updating Section 227(d)(3) of the Communications Act to read: The Commission shall prescribe technical and procedural standards for systems that are used to transmit any artificial or prerecorded voice message via telephone including those created through generative artificial intelligence (genAI), for example voice cloning, and other subsequent technologies as may be deemed appropriate by the [Federal Communications] Commission.
The bill also provides flexibility for the FCC to include other emerging technologies as it deems appropriate.
“Far too many Americans have fallen victim to the emerging threat of AI-generated robocalls, particularly our seniors. If we fail to update existing laws and regulations to keep pace with technological advancements, 21st-century consumers will continue to face these threats, leading to potential fraud or privacy invasions,” Rep. Allen said in a statement. “The CLEAR Voices Act is a commonsense approach to crack down on this malign practice, maintain public trust, and protect hardworking Americans. As the Vice Chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, I look forward to leading on these issues in the 119th Congress.”
The bill has been referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, for which Rep. Allen is the Vice Chairman.
