Telecom Set to Pay $1 Million Fine Over Deepfake Joe Biden Robocall
2 years ago 2 min read
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The Federal Communications Commission said that a telecom provider that sent the deepfake robocall featuring President Joe Biden’s voice has consented to pay $1 million to settle an enforcement action brought against it.
In what federal authorities describe as a first-of-its-kind enforcement action against malicious deepfakes, or AI-driven impersonations of others, Lingo Telecom, a voice service provider that disseminated the artificial intelligence-generated robocalls through “spoofed” phone numbers, has agreed to tighten oversight protocols and pay a seven-figure penalty.
The $1 million punishment, as stated in an FCC press release, is not just a punitive action but also a step towards making telecom firms answerable for the content that they let be sent across their networks.
FCC confirmed the fine sends a “strong message that communications service providers are the first line of defence against these threats and will be held accountable to ensure they do their part to protect the American public.”
Apart from facing a financial fine, Lingo Telecom has been mandated by the FCC to put into action a “historic compliance plan.”
Strict adherence to the FCC’s caller ID identification regulations is part of this approach; these regulations are intended to stop the kind of fraud and deception that happened in this instance.
The FCC suggested a $6 million fine against Kramer in May for utilising caller ID spoofing to start robocalls and enable the improper use of deepfake, AI voice cloning technology.
“Every one of us deserves to know that the voice on the line is exactly who they claim to be,” stated FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel. “If AI is being used, that should be made clear to any consumer, citizen, and voter who encounters it. The FCC will act when trust in our communications networks is on the line.”
We earlier reported that Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska and his intend to sue Meta for running bogus adverts on Facebook and Instagram carrying false information about them.
