California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 2905 into law, aiming to regulate the use of automatic dialing-announcing devices, commonly known as robocalls. While the bill strives to increase transparency, especially when artificial intelligence is involved in prerecorded messages, it falls short of addressing the broader issue — the constant barrage of unwanted solicitations. The new law merely requires individuals to listen to a real person before an automated message begins, leaving many to wonder why automated solicitation calls aren’t banned entirely.
Under AB 2905, telemarketers who use automatic dialing-announcing devices must start their call with a live, natural voice. This introduction is required to include details about the nature of the call and the name, address, and phone number of the business being represented. The caller also has to ask for the recipient’s consent to hear the prerecorded message and disclose if the message uses an artificial voice generated by AI. While this requirement offers some additional information, it does not prevent consumers from being subjected to automated telemarketing calls once they’ve answered the phone.
The main issue with AB 2905 is that it doesn’t stop the automated calls themselves. Like many across the nation, Californians are often inundated with robocalls, many of which use manipulative or aggressive sales tactics. Instead of addressing the core problem by banning these practices outright, the bill only provides a surface-level fix by requiring a brief live introduction before launching into the prerecorded pitch.
Rather than offering a robust solution to protect consumers, this bill leaves them vulnerable to continued solicitation tactics that feel intrusive and unwelcome. While it may enhance transparency, it fails to reduce the volume of these calls or their impact on the daily lives of Californians. By not imposing stricter measures, such as an outright ban on automated solicitation calls, the legislation falls short of providing the relief many consumers are seeking.
Allowing these calls to continue simply because a live voice introduces them raises an important question: why permit automated solicitation calls at all? Many consumers already find these calls disruptive, regardless of whether the message comes from a person or a machine. A more effective approach would be to prohibit automatic dialing-announcing devices entirely for solicitation purposes, offering real protection from unwanted interruptions.
If AB 2905 is intended to safeguard consumers, a more decisive action should be taken. Automated calling systems can easily overwhelm people with solicitations, particularly as AI continues to evolve. Though the bill attempts to provide more clarity, it doesn’t tackle the underlying issue: the widespread use of automation in telemarketing.
Banning robocalls for all types of solicitation, whether they use AI or not, would simplify regulations and offer stronger consumer protection. It would also prevent telemarketers from finding ways to exploit loopholes in the law. As artificial intelligence technology advances, it will become easier for automated voices to sound increasingly human-like, rendering partial solutions like AB 2905 less effective over time.
Eliminating automated solicitation calls altogether would also reduce frustration for consumers, sparing them from unwanted interruptions in their day. This step would minimize the potential for scams, many of which are initiated through robocalls, and would provide added security for vulnerable individuals.
Governor Newsom’s AB 2905 introduces some level of transparency by requiring telemarketers to disclose their identity and the use of artificial voices. However, it stops short of offering the kind of meaningful protection that would spare Californians from the flood of automated calls. Instead of piecemeal solutions, what consumers need is a full-scale ban on robocalls for solicitations, ensuring they are no longer subjected to these constant and frustrating interruptions. It’s time for California to take stronger action and end automated solicitation calls for good.
