AI Fraud Accountability Act (House)
AI Fraud Accountability Act
United States · H.R.7786, 119th Congress (2025–2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Any person or entity using digital impersonation in communications with fraudulent intent
- Enforced by
- FTC (civil); DOJ (criminal)
House companion to S.3982; criminalizes the use of realistic digital impersonation tools in interstate or foreign communications with fraudulent intent. Includes extraterritorial jurisdiction to reach foreign-based AI scam operations that frequently target American seniors. Buchanan's press release explicitly stated that the bill responds to 'a disturbing rise in AI-generated voice clones' used to defraud families including older adults.
Who is protected: All consumers; press materials specifically cite seniors and elderly targeted by AI voice clone scams
Legal detail
Amends Communications Act of 1934 § 223 (new subsection (i)) to criminalize using digital impersonations (AI- or computer-generated depictions indistinguishable from an authentic one) to commit fraud in interstate or foreign communications, punishable by fine under title 18, up to 3 years' imprisonment, or both, with extraterritorial jurisdiction; separately makes digital-impersonation fraud in commerce an FTC-enforced unfair or deceptive practice; directs NIST to convene a working group (including the FTC) on detecting and tracing digital impersonations; directs FTC cooperation with foreign law enforcement.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Citation | H.R.7786, 119th Congress (2025–2026) |
| Penalties | Criminal: fine under title 18, imprisonment up to 3 years, or both (new 47 U.S.C. 223(i)); civil: FTC enforcement as an unfair or deceptive act or practice |
| Topics | consumer protection · deepfakes · consumer data privacy |
| Bill text | H.R.7786 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): AI Fraud Accountability Act |
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Related consumer protection rules elsewhere
- Missouri AI Therapy Chatbot Ban (SB 1019) · In effect
- Vermont Data Broker Law (H.211) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
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