Ahead of the November congressional elections, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer asked the Federal Communications Commission on Monday to reject a petition by the conservative political organization Club for Growth to permit political AI-generated robocalls.
Campaigns might exploit their opponents’ voices to spread a message that is, at best, dishonest and, at worst, a flagrant lie under this alteration, according to Schumer.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What Happened | Chuck Schumer urged the FCC to reject a petition for AI political robocalls without prior consent. |
| Location | United States |
| Date | October 19, 2026 |
| Key People and Groups | Chuck Schumer, Club for Growth, FCC Chair Brendan Carr, and Commissioner Anna Gomez |
| Current Status | The FCC is reviewing the petition and public comments. A final decision was not confirmed in the cited report. |
The FCC may act on the petition this week, ahead of the election on November 3, as the comment period ends on Monday.
Brendan Carr, the chair of the FCC, did not immediately provide a statement.Schumer stated, “There is absolutely no justification for easing these regulations and permitting special interests to flood our cellphone lines with deepfakes or AI voices funded by dark money.”
The group previously requested permission from the FCC to conduct political calls to mobile phones “using an artificial or prerecorded voice – including an AI-generated voice.” The group is investing millions of dollars in advance of the November US congressional elections.
FCC Faces Pressure Over AI Political Texts
In a statement earlier this month, Club for Growth President David McIntosh stated that the organization wants “the FCC to treat First Amendment-protected political speech the same way it already treats wireless calls about package deliveries, bank accounts, and doctor’s appointments.”
According to its website, the organization, which supports conservative economic ideas on taxes, regulations, and reducing the size of government, intends to spend $175 million on the midterm congressional elections.
Schumer Warns Against AI Election Robocalls
Schumer pointed out that in 2024, the FCC suggested fining a political consultant $6 million for phony robocalls that imitated the voice of then-President Joe Biden and advised voters in New Hampshire not to cast ballots in the state’s Democratic primary.
