The end of annoying AI phone spam? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made a decision
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put a final point on its reforms related to automatic or "robocalls" after deciding to ban the use of artificial intelligence (AI) generated voices for marketing calls - report Fox News.
12:33 PM EST, February 23, 2024
Robocalls
What does the committee want to ban? What are robocalls based on? Is a term used to describe a situation in which a robot programmed for this activity makes an automatic call to random phone numbers and, with the help of pre-recorded messages, tries to get the caller to, among other things, provide personal information or make certain purchases. - With such devices, it is theoretically possible to make an infinite number of calls simultaneously.
It can be a robot that will simply play back pre-recorded formulas without analyzing what the caller is saying. At least at the beginning of the conversation, some people will not realize that there is an automaton on the other side.
AI in the service of marketing
"Although voice cloning and other uses of AI on calls are still evolving, we have already seen their use in ways that can uniquely harm consumers and those whose voice is cloned," we can read in FCC Feb. 8 decision.
FCC wrote, "Voice cloning can convince a called party that a trusted person, or someone they care about such as a family member, wants or needs them to take some action that they would not otherwise take" (...) "Requiring consent for such calls arms consumers with the right not to receive such calls or, if they do, the knowledge that they should be cautious about them."
The FCC has asserted that its latest guidelines will eliminate the possibility of AI being used negatively in marketing strategies and automated calls, emphasizing that the agency acknowledges "not all AI-generated calls may be deceptive or annoy all customers." Nonetheless, the choice to completely prohibit the technology guarantees that the agency retains the authority to pursue any application of the tech.
How to defend yourself?
You can also protect yourself from such fake phones by, among other things, installing special - often free - applications that recognize fraudsters' numbers and block them.
Source: Fox News