Following a harrowing Turn to Tara consumer report, a potential new law is in the works to crack down on AI voice cloning scams.

In June, Jennifer DeStefano received a terrifying phone call that initially sounded like her own daughter in distress. However, it was soon revealed that scammers had utilized artificial intelligence to create a clone, delivering sinister threats and claiming to have kidnapped her child. This incident deeply disturbed parents and galvanized local lawmakers.

Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan is spearheading the initiative to address the dangers of voice cloning schemes without waiting for federal intervention. His proposed legislation, named the 'Artificial Intelligence Privacy Act,' takes a three-pronged approach. It seeks to criminalize the unauthorized cloning of someone's voice or image through AI, affirm individuals' right to privacy from AI tools, and allocate additional resources for county police training and collaboration with federal authorities.

Lafazan emphasizes the urgency of local action, citing the federal government's limited response to such emerging threats. The proposed law would impose penalties, including fines of up to $1,000 and potential imprisonment, for violating privacy rights through AI voice cloning. While initially applicable to Long Island, Lafazan hopes this framework will serve as a model for other counties in the tri-state area to enact similar measures.

The legislator underscores the importance of safeguarding privacy, emphasizing that infringing on a neighbor's right to privacy is contrary to American values and unconstitutional.

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