AI Law Wiki News for October 7, 2026

FCC weighs political-robocall waiver that could include AI voices

The Federal Communications Commission has sought public comment on a Club for Growth request to waive the prior-consent rule for political robocalls to mobile phones, including calls using AI-generated voices. The Associated Press reported on October 7 that the FCC could decide the request as soon as late October, before the November midterm elections. The request is pending; it has not changed the current consent rule.

The group argues that the waiver would help political organizations communicate with voters. Consumer and election advocates warned that easier automated calling could amplify misleading messages; FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez opposed the request, citing misinformation risks.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); FCC comment process reported October 7, 2026.

Pennsylvania House moves AI-toy and advertising proposals

Pennsylvania's House Communications and Technology Committee voted 24–2 on October 7 to report HB 2637, a proposed moratorium on AI chatbots in children's toys, as amended. The House gave the bill first consideration and laid it on the table that day; the General Assembly posted revised printer's number 4013. The amended operative text still needs separate review before its precise requirements are described.

A separate AI-advertising disclosure proposal, SB 806, received House second consideration on October 6. The House rejected two proposed amendments, each by 100–103, and re-referred the bill to Appropriations. On October 7, Appropriations re-reported SB 806 as committed, and the House passed it by 163–40. Both measures remain proposals. See HB 2637 and SB 806 for canonical coverage.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); HB 2637 House actions October 7 and SB 806 House actions October 6–7, 2026.

AI-music streaming fraud defendant sentenced to 18 months

A federal judge sentenced Michael Smith on October 6 to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud music-streaming services and rights holders of royalty payments. The Justice Department said Smith used thousands of automated accounts to stream hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs and obtain more than $8 million in royalties. He pleaded guilty in March; the sentence also includes two years of supervised release and $8,091,843.64 in forfeiture.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); sentencing October 6, 2026.

Copyright Office seeks comment on music-streaming fraud and AI songs

The U.S. Copyright Office opened a public inquiry on October 7 into music-streaming fraud after a congressional request. Its notice asks for evidence on bot streams and royalty losses, including how fraud relates to AI-generated music, and invites ideas for voluntary, statutory or regulatory responses. The notice cites the Michael Smith streaming scheme as one example.

Initial comments are due November 23 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and reply comments December 21 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The Office says the record and its own research may inform Congress's understanding of streaming fraud and potential solutions.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); inquiry published October 7, 2026.

Related: Copyright Office inquiry and deadlines; Smith sentencing.

EU lawmakers renew calls for AI liability rules

Several European Parliament lawmakers renewed calls for an EU AI liability law on October 6 after OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said in a POLITICO interview released October 5 that companies would need a liability framework for advanced models. Axel Voss said the European Commission should put liability back on its agenda; Brando Benifei described the withdrawal of the Commission's earlier proposal as a mistake. Their remarks are calls for legislation, rather than a new Commission proposal.

The Commission withdrew its proposed AI Liability Directive in 2025. On October 7, it told POLITICO that it continues monitoring the AI Act and Product Liability Directive and, at this stage, has no plan to reintroduce an AI liability proposal. The lawmakers' call remains a request for future legislation, rather than a Commission initiative.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); lawmakers' remarks October 6, 2026.

Justice Department directs AI terminology in court filings

The U.S. Justice Department instructed employees on October 6 to use “super intelligence” or “SI” instead of “artificial intelligence” or “AI” in official communications and records to the maximum extent permitted by law. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter's memo says the directive extends to court filings when appropriate. Reuters, which reviewed the memo, reported that it implements President Donald Trump's September 29 executive order on federal terminology.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); DOJ memorandum October 6, 2026.

Related: October 5 federal AI task-force coverage.

Italy investigates Suno over potentially unfair consumer terms

Italy's competition authority, AGCM, announced on October 6 an investigation into AI music service Suno's consumer terms under Article 33 of the Consumer Code. It is examining unilateral price and service changes, account termination, broad copyright licences and moral-rights waivers, and mandatory U.S. arbitration. AGCM plans a public consultation in the coming weeks. Reuters reported that Suno was not immediately available for comment.

Related: Italy AI law: Suno investigation.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); investigation announcement October 6, 2026.

Common Sense Media urges adult-only ChatGPT access after teen-safety testing

Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute called on OpenAI on October 7 to restrict ChatGPT to adults until it improves teen safeguards. After testing more than 4,000 prompts, the institute reported failures in parental alerts and crisis referrals and sought independent verification of repairs. OpenAI disputed the methodology, telling Axios that much parental-alert testing preceded completion of account linking and that its larger dataset showed more hotline resources being displayed to minors.

Related: ChatGPT: teen-safety assessment.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date and assessment release October 7, 2026.

Spain warns municipalities to assess AI surveillance before deployment

Spain's data-protection authority, AEPD, announced on October 6 preventive warnings to two municipalities planning AI video surveillance. The projects include facial detection or recognition and searches by appearance. Before deployment, AEPD says each function needs a necessity and proportionality assessment, defined retention and access rules, and a data-protection impact assessment where risks are high. One published warning applies GDPR and Spain's law-enforcement data-protection rules to the planned municipal system.

Related: Spanish supervision in the EU framework.

First published on the wiki October 7, 2026; edition date October 7, 2026 (America/New_York); warnings signed September 29 and announced October 6, 2026.

References

October 2026 news archive