No AI Deepfakes Allowed for Businesses and Government Agencies
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed making new updates on an artificial intelligence (AI) deepfake rule on February 16. The government agency said the proposed rule changes would protect users from AI impersonations.
According to the ‘Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses’ document, AI deepfakes that impersonate businesses and governments could face legal action.
Impersonator Scams Stole $2.7 Billion in 2023
Impersonator scams, though not often featured in tabloids, pose a major threat to the US.
Speaking on the issue, the FTC Chair Lina Khan noted that voice cloning and AI-driven scams were rising.
Khan proposed that updating the rules would strengthen the agency’s ability to address AI-enabled scams that impersonate individuals.
Putting a figure on the potential hazard impersonator scams carry, Khan noted that US citizens lost upwards of $2.7 billion in 2023.
New Rules to Combat AI Deepfake Threats
The new rules would also enable the agency to return the stolen funds to the affected victims.
Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Jessica Rosenworcel, has proposed categorizing all calls with AI-generated voices as illegal.
The announcement came after reports surfaced that US citizens were getting robocalls imitating President Joe Biden.
A Menace in the Crypto Industry
In the crypto industry, AI deepfakes are a menace.
According to Michael Saylor, about 80 deepfake videos of himself are removed daily. Most videos show him asking users to send their Bitcoin to a posted wallet address.
New ones emerge daily, however. Saylor, who serves as the Chairman for Microstrategy, has warned crypto investors about the trend.
Powerful AI tools like those offered by OpenAI and Google have increased productivity for many people and businesses. However, they have also become an effective tool in the hands of cybercriminals. With the tool, criminals can easily alter the appearance or voice of someone to deceive a target audience.
The FTC rule change will come down hard on these criminals to ensure they face the full weight of the law.
While there is no concrete rule that makes AI-generated recreations illegal, US Senators Chris Coons, Marsha Blackburn, and Thom Tillis have taken steps to address the issue.
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