Full Breakdown
FCC Weighs Petition to Permit AI-Generated Political Robocalls Ahead of Midterms
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing a petition from the conservative advocacy group Club for Growth that seeks a waiver allowing political organizations to place automated calls using artificial-intelligence (AI)-generated voices on cell phones without prior consent. Filed on August 31, the request would modify rules that prohibit most unsolicited robocalls to mobile devices. The FCC opened a public comment period on September 4 and set a October 19 deadline for responses. A decision could be issued as early as late October, weeks before the November congressional elections.
Background & Context
Robocalls have long been used in U.S. campaigns, but federal law bans most calls to cell phones unless the recipient has given express consent. The rule was prompted by a 2024 New Hampshire primary incident in which voters received a call that mimicked President Joe Biden’s voice and urged them not to vote. State-level actions have intensified: Louisiana, Tennessee and Vermont enacted disclosure requirements for AI-generated campaign calls in 2024, and 25 states have passed laws addressing AI use in elections since 2019.
Data & Statistics
- Club for Growth proposes to spend $175 million on the 2026 midterm elections.
- The FCC’s 2024 rule could impose fines up to $6 million for violations involving AI-generated robocalls.
- Two individuals linked to the New Hampshire AI call, Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, were fined $5.1 million for Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations.
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 57 % of registered voters think the Trump administration has not taken AI risks seriously enough, while 54 % hold the same view of congressional leadership.
Official Statements & Responses
- David McIntosh, President of Club for Growth, framed the request as a First Amendment issue, asking the FCC to treat political speech on phones like calls about package deliveries or medical appointments.
- A spokesperson for Brendan Carr, FCC Chair, declined to comment.
- Tim Harper, elections lead at the Center for Democracy and Technology, warned the waiver could open “a huge opportunity for abuse” before the election.
- Tom Wheeler, visiting fellow at Brookings, criticized the White House’s voluntary AI-industry pact as “morally binding only.”
Criticism & Opposition
Public interest groups—including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Consumer Federation of America, Common Cause and Public Citizen—submitted comments urging the FCC to reject the petition. They argue that AI-generated robocalls, already a “hated form of communication,” would anger voters and could spread misinformation.
Timeline
- August 31 – Club for Growth files petition.
- September 4 – FCC opens public comment period.
- October 7 – FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly opposes the petition.
- October 19 – Deadline for comments.
What's Next
The FCC will review comments received by October 19 and is expected to issue a ruling before the November midterm elections. The outcome will determine whether political groups can deploy AI-generated voices in unsolicited calls to voters during the final weeks of the campaign.