January 20, 2024
April O'Neil / news@WHMI.com
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general in writing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the potential harms of telemarketers' use of artificial intelligence (AI). and called on the federal government to strongly restrict such use. .
In November, the FCC posted a notice of inquiry seeking comments on the impact and use of AI technology in consumer communications and how the technology fits with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Specifically, the FCC asked about the potential ability of AI technology to function as a functional equivalent to a real human.
Pursuant to the TCPA, a robocall is a call made using an artificial or prerecorded voice. Such calls are generally prohibited unless the caller obtains the consumer's prior express written consent.
AG Nessel also joined the comment letter to the FCC, stating that marketers who wish to use AI to impersonate human voices must be able to use “artificial “Voice” should be required to follow the TCPA's rules and regulations, he said.
“I have consistently worked to relieve consumers of the burden of intrusive and constant robocalls,” Nessel said. “Michigan has helped lead a national effort to reduce the number of unwanted automated calls, both within the state and nationally. Proper regulation will help continue this fight.
“I wholeheartedly support my colleagues in asking the Federal Communications Commission to limit marketers’ ability to use AI robocalls to circumvent the intent of the TCPA.”
AG Nessel serves the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey The state, along with North Carolina's attorney general, joined Pennsylvania in commenting. North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.
A copy of the comment letter is available at the link provided.
