US agency considers allowing new AI political robocalls before election

Washington, October 7 - A Democratic FCC member expressed concern on Wednesday that the agency should not approve a petition from the conservative political group Club for Growth to allow AI-generated political robocalls on cell phones. The group plans to spend millions of dollars in the upcoming US congressional elections and seeks permission to use artificial or prerecorded voices, including AI-generated ones, for political calls without prior consent.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez warned that allowing the dark money group to inundate Americans with AI-generated robocalls they did not agree to receive would cause chaos near Election Day. Club for Growth President David McIntosh argued that the FCC should treat First Amendment-protected political speech the same way it regulates other types of wireless calls, such as package deliveries, bank account updates, and doctor's appointment reminders.