From Tech Policy Press
Transcript: US Senate Subcommittee Hearing on “Protecting Consumers from Artificial Intelligence Enabled Fraud and Scams”
By Justin Hendrix
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the US Senate Commerce Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security convened a hearing titled “Protecting Consumers from Artificial Intelligence Enabled Fraud and Scams.” The hearing explored “how artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled harmful consumer fraud and scams, how technologies like AI labeling, detection and disclosures can protect consumers, and how to empower consumers to recognize and avoid AI-enabled fraud and scams.”
Witnesses included:
- Hany Farid, Professor, University of California Berkeley, School of Information
- Justin Brookman, Director, Technology Policy, Consumer Reports
- Mounir Ibrahim, Chief Communications Officer & Head of Public Affairs, Truepic
- Dorota Mani, Mother of Deepfake Pornography Victim
A number of themes were discussed during the hearing, including the need for accountability and consequences, education and prevention, content authentication and provenance, and platform responsibility.
1. Need for Accountability and Consequences
- Dr. Farid: “I believe in action and consequences. And I think that’s whether it’s an individual, a trillion-dollar company or a US Senator for that matter... Silicon Valley and trillion-dollar companies have gotten away with it for 25 years and frankly we’ve let them.”
- Mr. Brookman: “Deterrence is incredibly important... If you’re putting a product out in the market that’s overwhelmingly likely to be used for harm, you should bear some responsibility.”
Hany Farid is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences and the School of Information at UC Berkeley. He specializes in digital forensics.
