On November 16, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) set significant precedents with the release of new initiatives focused on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their effects on consumers. In a world that increasingly relies on digital communication, these inquiries demonstrate a critical step in understanding and regulating the evolving digital landscape.
The FCC’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeks to gather information on how AI technologies have influenced the growth and execution of robocalling. Robocalls have been an urgent consumer concern, and with new technologies emerging in this area, understanding the implications of AI becomes crucial for future regulatory endeavors.
On a parallel track, the FTC introduced an initiative focused on voice cloning, a technology that uses AI to clone human voices. Aimed at developing solutions to protect consumers from AI-enabled voice cloning harms, this initiative rounds up the agenda for understanding and managing the potential perils of rapidly evolving AI technology.
Both FCC and FTC steps mark the beginning of an imperative discourse – the role of AI in telecommunications, and how to regulate it effectively to safeguard consumers. As AI continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these inquiries develop and influence the broader landscape of digital communication.
This institutional attention is certainly an important topic for legal professionals working within the technology sector, telecommunications, and digital consumer rights. These inquiries not only underscore the ongoing evolution of AI technologies but also signal a shift in regulatory focus toward innovative areas that have largely remained unaddressed until now. Keeping a close eye on these developments would be in the best interests of corporations and law firms operating in these sectors, as they may well shape the future of digital communications regulation.