FTC Impersonation Rule (AI)
FTC Government and Business Impersonation Rule — AI-Impersonation Enforcement
United States · 16 C.F.R. Part 461; 89 Fed. Reg. 15017
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- April 1, 2024
- Applies to
- Anyone in or affecting U.S. commerce who impersonates a government entity or business
- Enforced by
- Federal Trade Commission
The FTC's Impersonation Rule lets the agency directly sue scammers who pretend to be a government agency or a real business — including those who use AI-cloned voices or generated images to do so. Civil penalties can reach $53,088 per violation. The FTC also issued a supplemental notice in February 2024 proposing to extend the rule to all individual impersonation.
Who is protected: Consumers receiving AI-impersonation calls/emails/videos; impersonated government bodies and businesses
Legal detail
16 C.F.R. Part 461 (Trade Reg. Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses), 89 Fed. Reg. 15017 (Mar. 1, 2024), eff. Apr. 1, 2024. Authorizes federal-court actions for civil penalties and redress. Feb. 15, 2024 supplemental NPRM proposes Rule on Impersonation of Individuals — explicitly justified by AI deepfake fraud against private individuals.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Strength | Stronger |
| Enacted | February 15, 2024 |
| Citation | 16 C.F.R. Part 461; 89 Fed. Reg. 15017 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Civil penalties (up to $53,088 per violation in 2025), redress, injunctive relief |
| Topics | consumer protection · deepfakes |
| Agency page | FTC Announces Impersonation Rule Goes Into Effect |
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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
- NAACP v. xAI (Colossus 2 Air Pollution) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI Therapy Chatbot Ban (2026) · In effect
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