FCC to Launch NOI on Fighting Robocalls Through AI

The FCC will look at ways to use AI, machine learning and patterns of use to help identify fraud in robocalls and robotexts, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel during an AARP webinar Monday. The FCC will launch a proceeding this week, she said. AI can also potentially be used to simulate the voices of friends or family, and the FCC needs to understand those dangers, Rosenworcel said. One of the ways policymakers get “in front of” problems is by starting a proceeding, she said.

“We want to understand what technology we can use on our networks to get ahead of this, to see patterns in these junk calls,” Rosenworcel said. “We believe there are technologies out there, and we want to encourage their development,” she said. AI offers analytical capabilities that aren’t possible without technology, she said. AI can help restore peoples’ trust in telecom networks, she said. “We’ve got to make sure our networks are trustworthy -- that’s why getting rid of robocalls is so important,” she said.

“There’s a lot of anxiety” about the “long-term” implications of generative AI, Rosenworcel said. “There are reasons to be worried about those capabilities and the databases that will inform it and whether or not they have bias and what we can do about that now,” she said. AI can also help the FCC cut off bad actors “before they ever reach on your device or in your home,” she said.

In July, the FCC held a workshop on AI (see 2307130048) with the National Science Foundation and in August commissioners approved a notice of inquiry on AI and other technologies in managing how spectrum is used (see 2308030075).

“Scam artists are creative, and we’ve got to figure out how to be just as nimble as they are,” Rosenworcel said. “This is not a one and done activity. We’re just going to keep at it,” she said.

“I can’t stand robocalls -- they’re awful, they’re annoying, and that junk often leads to scams and fraud,” Rosenworcel said. Last year, 120,000 Americans wrote the FCC to complain about robocalls and the FTC says 20% of the complaints it gets are related to robocalls or robotexts, she said. She noted that this year the FCC has issued more than $500 million in robocall fines.

“Fighting fraud is in AARP’s DNA,” said Nancy LeaMond, the group's chief advocacy and engagement officer. Millions of Americans are targeted every day by “digital scams,” she said. LeaMond said it’s important for the FCC to tout the benefits of AI “because everything we see is terrifying.”

Consumers saw losses of almost $500 million in Texas from robocall and other fraud last year and “that’s only what’s reported,” said Tina Tran, AARP Texas state director. The vast majority of crimes go unreported, she said. AARP does extensive outreach to the public to alert consumers about how to watch for robocalls and other fraud, she said.

People feel like they are “inundated by robocalls, day in and day out,” Tran said. That’s true across Texas, she said. Technologies like Stir/Shaken have helped, “but we really need to do more,” she said. Fraudsters are already using AI and deep fakes to manipulate people, she said.

The NOI will look at how AI technologies fit into the FCC’s statutory responsibilities under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, “how AI impacts existing regulatory frameworks and future policy formulation” and “if the Commission should consider ways to verify the authenticity of legitimately generated AI voice or text content from trusted sources,” said a news release. The NOI will also look at possible next steps the agency can take.

“As AI technologies that can generate content become increasingly prevalent, they have the potential to perform tasks that would ordinarily require human participation,” the news release said: “These include interactive communications by voice calls and texts to consumers. Additionally, AI has the potential to expand and refine analytics tools.”