Democrats in the House of Representatives are now urging the US government to tackle the increasing number of deepfakes and robocalls as the 2024 Elections arrive within months.
New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone is now proposing further clarifications to the definition of robocalls to include AI-generated texts and calls.
The Supreme Court has previously only determined robocalls to only certain phone dialing systems under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, excluding text messages.
Pallone said the new legislation will "plug up the loopholes" in the Supreme Court decision and possibly "put some serious limitations" on the surge of robocalls in the US.
Calls for the new law came after a deepfake of President Joe Biden, Democrat's leading candidate, started calling New Hampshire residents to not attend the state's election primary.
Also Read: Deepfake Audio of Biden Tells Democrats Not to Vote, Alarms Watchdogs
AI-Powered Disinformation on the Rise in the US
The continuous development in AI technology has prompted a surge in AI-fueled disinformation in the country, including robocalls and automated text messages.
Robocall watchdog YouMail reported 55 billion robocalls were made in 2023, affecting one person per 167.7 calls.
This was the biggest recorded number of robocalls placed since the reports breached the 50 billion marker in 2021.
More websites hosting AI-generated "fake news" have also grown exponentially by 1,000% since May 2023, according to The Washington Post.
There are only a few legislations that have been approved in order to address this rising threat to democracy.
How to Spot Bogus Robocalls
One of the biggest giveaways in scam robocalls is the urgency of the situation, requiring the recipient to shell out money immediately or to do something over important matters.
Authorities recommend people always ensure the number calling them and immediately block and report a number if proven that they are impersonating someone.
The Federal Trade Commission has also released samples of scam robocalls to help consumers identify and avoid fraud in the future.
Related Article: How to Spot Election 'Fake News' on Social Media
