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Voice cloning technologies can generate a near-perfect voice clone based on a short audio clip or snippet of someone’s voice. The technology has potential to help people—for example, people who've lost their ability to speak, offering them a powerful and valuable means of communication. But, in the wrong hands, voice cloning technologies can do harm.

Take, for example, the family emergency scam, where an impostor pretends to be a distressed relative. A scammer could clone a voice that sounds just like your loved one. Scammers could also clone the voice of a CEO or other company executive. Then trick employees into transferring large sums of money or to pay a fake invoice.

As part of its ongoing focus on these issues, the FTC is announcing the Voice Cloning Challenge — a call-to-action to innovators to develop solutions that protect consumers from voice cloning harms. The winner will take home a prize of $25,000.

Participants can start working on their submissions now! The FTC will accept submissions online from January 2 to 12, 2024.The FTC will announce winners after submissions are judged. For answers to frequently asked questions, entrance details, and more, see the Voice Cloning Challenge page.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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Joyce
November 16, 2023

We really don't need AI, voice cloning at all.!

Al Hartman
November 16, 2023

Thank you. I am glad I signed up for these reports.

Robin E Doran
November 28, 2023

In reply to by Al Hartman

I'm not sure who that is ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️ but I hope you know who your messing with, especially using MY GRANDPARENTS last name like it's the thing to do!! I personally don't this the invention of voice matching was beneficial to anyone considering some of us have been battling IDENTITY THEFT ever eince

Tee Tyme
November 17, 2023

This is real. This has happened to me and these people have ran credit reports on me over 1000 times. They have called my credit card companies and said I have fraud charges on my card and changed all my information. Then they charge over the limits on the cards and when I find out, I've been turned into the credit bureau for delinquency. I call the credit card companies and they tell me to prove I didn't do this and prove the imposters did do it otherwise I have to pay. I've been fighting for months trying to get this straight. No luck. The government should help us with this because my credit score went from 800+ down to 400+ because of this.

Alyce
November 17, 2023

This is a great idea! I hope that many talented innovators design ingenious methods of stopping those who try to steal voices and use in scams!

brian
November 17, 2023

Makes you stop and think about those Spam calls you get where no one speaks, no sounds or anything for about 30 seconds before it hangs up. This is very dangerous technology.

Antonio Perdue SR
November 17, 2023

Sorry don’t need this at all in my life! My family has been hurt my this technology stuff that we will never seek the Justice we deserve!

Kathy Leonard
November 17, 2023

Our government needs to be proactive in placing clear, detailed, distinct, strictly enforced limits and safeguards of AI-and putting technology companies directly responsible for the implementation and reinforcing of these rules and laws-as well as for compensation to victims
of any failure to enforcement thereof.
Licensing of any and all users should be kept by said tech companies, and should be available
to consumers and to the FBI, BBB, FTC, and all other government-controlled recording agencies
(where US consumers can find related information).

President Joe Biden
November 20, 2023

In reply to by Kathy Leonard

Anybody who has a computer can do these technologies you're saying should be strictly monitored. Anybody who knows anything about technology is capable of doing anything that they want to do with it you can't take that away from them you can't just erase knowledge. I mean look I said my name is President Joe Biden. You know it's not I know it's not but I could sit here and try to convince you it was and if I knew the right words you probably would start to believe me. Nobody can stop me from doing that except for myself. The government isn't capable of stopping billions of people from doing what they want to do with their computers. You just need to learn to watch out better.

Cheryl Suggs
November 20, 2023

I'm seeing a lot of AI Voice Cloning Challenges. I'm also seeing a lot of free car giveaway when you show that your interested. During the holidays especially the scammers really turn up the heat. I've tricked some and say likes or done or yes = followers and followers could be used as marketing techniques.

Frances
November 30, 2023

As usual information that is so critical for existence in today's world.

Jonathan Blargust
December 07, 2023

I personaly think that we should, all BOW DOWN to our Al overlords,.. If they take your voice, who are YOU to stop them.?

Cheryl Goins
December 12, 2023

There is no need for any of this AI technology and I prescribe that we return back to real people answering phone calls. You want to deposit your check and cash a check make a trip in person to the bank. If a person isn't able to make it to the bank, it should be that a customer can write a letter sign it along with enclosed the check to be deposited in their account.

All this AI technology needs to be banned and companies need to go back to the former ways of pencil and paper or use the typewriter. Restore back telephone booths on the street and eliminate these smart phones from having additional capabilities that can be used in scamming. In addition, ban these spoofcard company services that offers people the ability to enter another person's phone number to appear on a caller id.

Ban the availability of these phone apps that can change someone's phone or photo editing apps that can alter ones appearance in an online chat. Verify people the initial method of their handwriting and do away with these editing document software. We never needed these computer programs and it seems the computers need to be simply for government use. Than used by any consumer as initially it was in the early days.