Senator Presses AI Firms After $893M Loss in Voice-Cloning Scams

Senator Maggie Hassan has issued formal inquiries to several AI voice-cloning companies, including ElevenLabs, in response to an FBI report highlighting $893 million in losses from AI-related scams in 2025. Hassan, who is a ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, seeks to understand how these companies prevent their technologies from being misused by scammers.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center noted that AI-linked scams resulted in significant financial impacts across various fraud categories, such as investment and elder fraud. The New Hampshire Grandparent Scam, cited by Hassan, exemplifies how AI voice technology can be exploited to deceive victims into sending money.

Hassan's letters request detailed information from these companies on their monitoring practices and the methods they use to ensure consent before cloning an individual's voice. Questions also cover measures against imitating public figures and whether AI-generated audio is marked for identification purposes.

This move aligns with recent legislative efforts to tackle AI-enabled fraud, highlighting the need for accountability and better technological safeguards. Companies are expected to respond soon, as Congress considers the effectiveness of voluntary precautions versus potential regulations.