The Federal Communications Commission adopted a declaratory ruling, unanimously, confirming that voices generated by AI count as "artificial" under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Under that act, placing automated calls with an artificial voice without prior express consent is illegal. The ruling made no new rule; it stated how far the existing one reached, and it took effect immediately. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said "bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters," and framed the ruling as giving state attorneys general the tools to pursue them. Three weeks earlier, robocalls using a cloned Biden voice had gone out in New Hampshire.