TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act)
A 1991 federal statute restricting telemarketing calls and automated messages, now clarified by the FCC to cover AI-generated voices.
Definition
A federal statute enacted in 1991 that restricts telemarketing calls, faxes, and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice messages. The FCC's Declaratory Ruling on AI-Generated Voice Calls clarifies and strengthens the application of the TCPA in the context of advanced artificial intelligence technologies. The TCPA is the primary legal framework in the United States for protecting consumers from unwanted robocalls and robotexts. The ruling confirms that the TCPA's prohibition on 'artificial or prerecorded voice' encompasses AI technologies that generate human voices, thereby requiring prior express consent for such calls unless an emergency or exemption applies. This ensures that the foundational consumer protections established by the TCPA remain effective against evolving methods of automated communication, particularly those leveraging sophisticated AI capabilities to simulate human interaction.