Congress moves to unmask AI-powered robocall scams targeting millions

What it does

This bill amends the Communications Act to require that anyone making a robocall or text message using artificial intelligence to impersonate a human voice or identity must disclose that AI is being used at the start of the call or message. It also doubles the maximum penalties (fines and forfeitures) for violations involving AI-generated impersonation intended to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain money or value.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a disclosure requirement and penalty enhancement designed to protect consumers from AI-enabled impersonation fraud. It does not create new substantive prohibitions but rather increases transparency and enforcement teeth against existing violations.

What the text implies

• The disclosure requirement applies only to calls/messages that 'emulate a human being'—AI systems that do not attempt to sound human (e.g., clearly robotic voices) may fall outside the rule, creating a loophole for AI that is obviously synthetic but still unsolicited.
• The bill does not define 'substantial human intervention' precisely, potentially allowing bad actors to argue that minimal human oversight satisfies the robocall exemption and avoids the disclosure requirement.
• Enhanced penalties apply only when AI impersonation is used 'with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value'—proving intent may be difficult for prosecutors, limiting the practical deterrent effect.
• The bill amends Section 227 of the Communications Act but does not address AI-generated deepfakes in video or audio outside the robocall/text-message context, leaving a gap in protection for other AI impersonation vectors.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Citizens gain transparency about AI-generated calls and text messages, enabling them to identify and avoid fraud. Enhanced penalties deter bad actors from using AI to impersonate individuals or entities for fraud, harm, or theft, reducing the volume and sophistication of scams targeting ordinary people.

Named in the bill

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Communications Act of 1934, Section 227, Section 503, Section 501

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Dec 4, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Dec 4, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

4 lobbying clients named this bill on 5 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $5,610,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 4 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 72% of bills with at least one filing.

John Curtis, the sponsor, reported $431,000 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• AARP — $5,300,000 on 1 filing
• 1-800 Contacts, Inc. — $250,000 on 1 filing
• Twilio — $60,000 on 1 filing
• AARP — $0 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 24, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.