On Thursday, U.S. Sens. John Curtis, R-Utah, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at pulling back the curtain on robocalls that use artificial intelligence — and raising the stakes for scammers who use AI to impersonate real people.
The Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications, or QUIET, Act would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require that any robocall or text message using AI to emulate a human voice clearly disclose at the beginning of the call or message that artificial intelligence is being used.
“The innovation that comes with using artificial intelligence has the potential to bring incredible amounts of good to our lives, with the understanding that bad actors will and can take advantage of that,” Curtis said in a news release announcing the bill. “Almost all Americans have been affected by scams through robocalls and we must work to ensure that with new technology, we have new safeguards.”
Blumenthal said the bill is designed to protect consumers from criminals “increasingly using AI in robocalls and text messages to trick consumers — stealing billions of dollars from their victims each year.” Strong safeguards like those in the QUIET Act, he said, are needed “to crack down on fraudsters and give Americans the peace of mind they deserve.”
Under the proposal, “robocall” would cover calls or text messages sent using automatic dialing technology, as well as any call that uses an artificial or prerecorded voice or an artificially generated message.
The bill would also double the maximum civil forfeiture penalties and criminal fines for violations of federal robocall rules when AI is used to impersonate an individual or entity with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongfully obtain something of value. These enhanced penalties would apply to violations that occur after the bill becomes law.
The push comes as Americans continue to be flooded with automated calls. In 2024, consumers received nearly 53 billion robocalls — about 200 calls per adult — according to YouMail data. A July 2025 AARP survey found that 95% of adults age 50 and older reported receiving a scam or illegal robocall in the previous year, and about two in five said those calls come daily or almost daily.
“Older adults should be able to answer the phone without fear of being scammed,” said Bill Sweeney, AARP’s senior vice president of government affairs, in supporting the bill. “The QUIET Act will crack down on criminals using AI to trick and defraud, giving older Americans stronger protections and greater peace of mind.”