Key facts
- Club for Growth seeks permission for noncommercial political calls using AI-generated voices without prior consent.
- Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez opposes the request, citing risks of misleading messages and voter intimidation.
- Club for Growth argues that political speech deserves the same treatment as automated calls for deliveries or appointments.
- Existing rules require identification of the responsible party for artificial or prerecorded messages.
- The FCC proposed explicit AI disclosure requirements in 2024, but they are not yet adopted.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged the Federal Communications Commission on Monday not to approve a petition from the conservative group Club for Growth that would allow political AI-generated robocalls ahead of the November congressional elections. Schumer expressed concern that such a change could enable campaigns to use opponents' voices to spread false messages.
The petition seeks permission for noncommercial political calls using artificial or prerecorded voices, including AI-generated speech, without prior express consent from recipients. The comment period for the request was set to expire on Monday.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez opposes the petition, warning that allowing such calls without consent could amplify the use of AI for misleading messages and voter intimidation. Club for Growth, however, argues that political speech should be treated similarly to automated calls for deliveries, banking, or medical appointments, asserting that the Constitution protects political conversation with voters. The group also suggests AI could reduce costs and increase the scale of political communication efforts.