FCC urges stronger authentication and cross‑agency steps on robocalls, flags AI‑generated impersonations
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Summary
Chairman Brendan Carr told the Appropriations subcommittee the FCC is expanding STIR/SHAKEN authentication, strengthening traceback and working with the FTC and state attorneys general to address illegal robocalls and emerging AI‑generated voice scams, which lawmakers said are increasingly costly to victims.
WASHINGTON — House members and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr focused renewed attention on illegal robocalls and emerging AI‑generated impersonation scams during the appropriations hearing, pressing the agency on what tools and authorities it needs to stop scams that can cause sizable financial losses to consumers.
Carr described a two‑track strategy: improving system‑level call authentication and permitting carriers broader authority to block calls at the network edge. "It's called STIRSHAKEN," Carr said, describing the call authentication framework the FCC has promoted. He also noted the agency's traceback consortium and steps to force providers that onboard illegal robocalls to remove them quickly.
Lawmakers’ concerns: The committee’s vice chair said staff research showed AI impersonation scams sometimes result in average losses of about $6,000, far higher than traditional scams. Members repeatedly asked whether the FCC has sufficient enforcement tools and whether additional statutory authority would help. Carr said the agency is conducting a top‑to‑bottom review and will return to Congress if it identifies legal gaps that need fixing. "We're right now doing a top to bottom review, and we'll come back to you if there's any gaps in our authorities that we need filled," he said.
Technical challenges and overseas sources: Carr explained that technical gaps remain when calls traverse older networks or international handoffs, and that some illegal call origination occurs overseas. He told members many robocalls originate from a range of sources, citing India and Eastern Europe as among the origins discussed in testimony.
What the FCC is doing now: Carr said the agency is expanding call‑blocking allowances for carriers, building authentication and traceback capabilities and issuing consumer advisories when new scams are identified. He also said the FCC will work with the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general on enforcement.
Ending: Carr told the panel he is willing to work with Congress on possible authority gaps and said the FCC will continue to ramp up technical and enforcement efforts to protect consumers from evolving robocall and AI voice‑scam threats.
