Grand Canyon Times

Senator Justine Wadsack has introduced legislation aimed at combating artificial intelligence (AI) scams following a distressing incident involving an Arizona mother. The proposed law, known as SB 1599, seeks to address the misuse of AI technology in criminal activities by establishing it as a weapon with potential legal consequences.

The initiative comes after Jennifer DeStefano experienced an attempted extortion through AI-generated voice clones. In 2023, scammers cloned her daughter's voice and demanded a $1 million ransom. DeStefano has since shared her story with Senator Wadsack to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

"AI technology is becoming more sophisticated, and criminals are taking advantage of it," stated Senator Wadsack. "These scammers have the ability to create realistic audio of people's loved ones. I can't imagine getting a call from who I believe is my child that's been kidnapped. That type of encounter has lasting traumatizing effects that impact your sense of security and safety."

DeStefano emphasized the widespread nature of such crimes, stating, "I want people to know this type of criminal activity can happen to anyone. It's easy to think they're confined to just social media users or a specific age or demographic, but after hearing countless stories, I know that's not the case." She also expressed concern about AI's potential use in human trafficking beyond financial crimes.

For further details on Jennifer DeStefano's testimony or additional information about the legislation, contact Kim Quintero, Director of Communications for the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus.