H.R. 1027 — QUIET Act

This section establishes the short title of the Act as the “Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications Act” or the “QUIET Act.”

This section establishes a new disclosure requirement for robocalls and text messages that use artificial intelligence to emulate a human being under section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227). It requires the caller or sender to disclose at the beginning of the call or text message that artificial intelligence is being used. As background, section 227 restricts certain automated and prerecorded calls and messages, including calls made using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice. This section defines “robocall” for the new disclosure rule to include calls or text messages made using equipment, including an automatic telephone dialing system, that calls stored numbers or numbers generated randomly or sequentially, as well as calls or messages using an artificial or prerecorded voice or an artificially generated message. It excludes calls or text messages made with equipment that requires substantial human intervention. It also defines “text message” to include SMS, MMS, and RCS messages, as well as messages transmitted through application-to-person messaging, and excludes real-time, two-way voice or video communication.

This section establishes enhanced penalties for violations of section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, when a caller or sender uses artificial intelligence to impersonate an individual or entity with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. It doubles the maximum forfeiture penalty under 47 U.S.C. 227(b)(4) or (e)(5)(A), or under section 503(b) of the Communications Act, and doubles the maximum criminal fine under 47 U.S.C. 227(e)(5)(B) or section 501, as applicable. The amendment applies only to violations occurring after the date of enactment.