Senator Demands Answers from AI Voice Cloning Companies After $893M in Reported Scams

Maggie Hassan sends letters to four firms seeking details on safeguards against impersonation fraud

Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:48pm

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Senator Maggie Hassan has sent formal requests to four AI voice-cloning companies - ElevenLabs, LOVO, Speechify and VEED - asking how they prevent scammers from misusing their tools for impersonation fraud. This comes after the FBI reported $893 million in losses from AI-related scams in 2025, including cases where criminals used voice cloning to impersonate victims in grandparent scams.

Why it matters

Voice cloning technology has enabled a new wave of impersonation fraud, with scammers using synthetic voices to trick victims into sending money or providing sensitive information. Senator Hassan is pressing these companies to explain their safeguards, as lawmakers consider new legislation to criminalize digital impersonation for fraud.

The details

Hassan's letters ask the four companies specific questions about how they monitor for misuse, confirm user consent before cloning a voice, and prevent imitation of public figures or minors. The companies are also asked whether they watermark AI-generated audio and keep provenance data that could aid investigations. This comes after a 2025 Consumer Reports investigation found many voice cloning products lacked meaningful barriers to non-consensual use.

  • In June 2025, a New York man was sentenced to prison for his role in a grandparent scam that used AI voice cloning to steal $20,000 from three New Hampshire families.
  • The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that AI-related scams accounted for $893 million in losses in 2025, across more than 22,000 complaints.

The players

Senator Maggie Hassan

A US Senator from New Hampshire and the ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, who sent the letters demanding answers from the AI voice cloning companies.

ElevenLabs

An AI voice cloning company that was one of the recipients of Hassan's letters, and has stated it has 'an extensive array of safeguards' against misuse.

LOVO

An AI voice cloning company that was one of the recipients of Hassan's letters, along with Speechify and VEED.

Speechify

An AI voice cloning company that was one of the recipients of Hassan's letters, along with LOVO and VEED.

VEED

An AI voice cloning company that was one of the recipients of Hassan's letters, along with LOVO and Speechify.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The companies that received Hassan's letters have a deadline to respond, and their responses will likely inform any future Congressional action on regulating AI voice cloning technology.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of impersonation fraud enabled by AI voice cloning, and the need for stronger safeguards and oversight to prevent scammers from exploiting this technology. Lawmakers are now pressing companies to be more transparent about their practices and take responsibility for preventing misuse.