Scams are growing more alarming with each passing day. Artificial intelligence (AI) is enhancing scammers’ abilities, creating unprecedented risks for Americans. In recent years, people have lost billions to impostor scams, with reports more than tripling since 2020. Even before AI became widespread, impersonation fraud was a significant problem. Now, millions of scam and theft reports flood in every year as AI enhances cloning tools.
AI in Impersonation Fraud
Consider Arizona mother Jennifer DeStefano in 2023. She received a call with her 15-year-old daughter’s voice crying for help. A man’s voice interrupted, claiming to have kidnapped her daughter and demanding a $1 million ransom, later reduced to $50,000. Before paying, DeStefano found her daughter safe. Testifying before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee, she recounted recognizing her daughter’s cries and speech. The committee identified her case as an AI deepfake kidnapping and extortion scheme.
Deepfake Threats and Personal Rights
With advancements in AI, these issues are exacerbating. AI can now seamlessly replicate trusted voices and images, complicating identification of real individuals on calls or videos. Scammers only need three seconds of audio to clone a voice, and deepfakes pose broader concerns. These AI-generated digital copies threaten privacy, personal security, and corporate reputations without needing explicit consent. Should individuals have rights against digital duplicates?
Legal and Creative Community Concerns
In 2024, after a study receiving over 10,000 public comments, the U.S. Copyright Office acknowledged significant gaps in existing AI-related protections. They advised Congress to enact a federal law safeguarding individuals against unauthorized digital replicas. The office clarified the AI threat extends beyond entertainment and politics, affecting private citizens across all societal sectors. Creatives, including musicians and voice actors, are particularly adamant, fearing generative AI may exploit their identity in making a living. Developers have already employed copyrighted art without permission, which is problematic.
Initiatives for Secure AI
The Alliance for Secure AI, advised by Nico Zviovich, launched “Creatives for Secure AI.” This initiative rallies creative professionals to address AI concerns and preserve their likenesses. People deserve meaningful control over their digital copies. Congress is showing interest too. The bipartisan NO FAKES Act aims to establish protections for ordinary Americans regarding digital duplicates. It proposes a federal intellectual property right, defending individuals from unauthorized digital replicas of their voice and image, safeguarding their privacy and livelihood.
Revamp in Legislation
The core principle is straightforward: identity should belong solely to the individual. No one should face the risk of their voice or face getting imitated, altered, or used in deceit. As AI advances quicker than public policy adapts, Americans require safeguards that match technological progress. Layers of AI threats persist. How many stories similar to DeStefano’s remain unheard? Countless artists and entertainers may find their identities co-opted by AI, sans permission. Numerous victims of AI overreach may never receive justice.
Moving Forward: Legislative Action
These challenging questions necessitate proactive legislation. The NO FAKES Act, endorsed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, awaits a vote on the Senate floor. However, congressional leadership has not prioritized it for a vote yet. It’s crucial for Congress to act and put the bill forward. As deepfakes evolve, scams worsen, urging humans to oppose unauthorized imitation—and for Congress to respond.
Nico Zviovich advises The Alliance for Secure AI and initiated Creatives for Secure AI. He is also an award-winning film producer and serves as the chief impact officer of MovieGoer, a film distribution and marketing company.