Senator Proposes Bill To Regulate Deceptive AI Robocalls

Senator John Curtis is taking a stand against deceptive robocalls that utilize artificial intelligence to mimic human voices. The proposed bill, known as the Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications (QUIET) Act, aims to bring transparency and accountability to these unwanted calls. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Senator Curtis’s bill would require robocalls using AI to disclose this information at the beginning of the call or text message.

This crucial detail would help individuals on the receiving end make informed decisions about how to proceed with the conversation. The QUIET Act also seeks to enhance penalties for those using AI to impersonate humans with malicious intent. Specifically, the bill aims to double fines when AI is used as part of a scam, thereby increasing the consequences for those who exploit this technology for nefarious purposes.

One notable exception to the bill is that it would not apply to calls or text messages made using equipment that requires substantial human intervention. This carve-out is intended to prevent the use of AI imitations of human voices when the person on the other end of the call genuinely believes they are speaking to a human.

The issue of robocall scams is particularly pressing for older Americans, who are disproportionately targeted by these schemes.