On July 25, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a proposal to enhance transparency in political advertising by requiring broadcasters to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in their TV and radio advertisements. The proposal mandates that entities already obligated to file information about political ads inform the FCC whether AI technologies were employed in creating the content, alongside making on-air disclosures. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the need for transparency, noting, “There’s too much potential for AI to manipulate voices and images in political advertising to do nothing. If a candidate or issue campaign used AI to create an ad, the public has a right to know.”
The initiative follows a surge in AI-generated misinformation, highlighted by incidents during the 2024 New Hampshire primary election, where an AI-generated robocall impersonating President Biden misled voters. As public concern over deceptive AI content rises, the FCC aims to address gaps in the regulation of political advertisements. While the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) oversees online political ads, the FCC's authority extends to broadcast mediums, providing a framework to standardize regulations amidst a growing number of state laws governing AI and deepfake technology in elections. This proposal seeks to ensure voters have clear information about the authenticity of the political content they encounter.
