Senators Blunt Rochester and Sheehy Introduce AI Fraud Accountability Act

A bill aimed at protecting Americans from AI-enabled scams while preserving technological innovation and legitimate digital expression was introduced today by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The AI Fraud Accountability Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana.), would update federal law to address emerging risks from highly realistic digital impersonations, such as AI-generated voices or deepfake videos, that are used to defraud individuals or businesses. The bill would create a new offense under the Communications Act for using AI or other technology to impersonate a real or fictitious person to obtain money or other value, with criminal and civil penalties enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. The legislation also directs the FTC to pursue international cooperation and establishes a federal working group to develop best practices for combating digital impersonation fraud, while safeguarding First Amendment-protected activities. Supporters, including Microsoft, AARP, and the National Consumers League, say the bill equips law enforcement and regulators to protect consumers and businesses while ensuring AI innovation can continue safely.