Binding law — in force
AI agents must not pose as, or claim the endorsement of, a government body or a business (FTC Impersonation Rule)
16 CFR 461.2 and 461.3 make it a violation, and an unfair or deceptive practice, to materially and falsely pose as a government entity or officer, or a business or its officer, directly or by implication, or to materially misrepresent affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship by one, in or affecting commerce. 'Officer' includes employees and agents (461.1). The FTC's final rule notice names generative AI as a risk that makes impersonation scams worse. For AI integrations the surface is the agent's configured identity: detect system prompts, personas, voice-agent scripts, and message templates that tell the AI to present itself as a government agency or officer, or as a business or its staff, or to claim their endorsement. The rule does not (yet) cover impersonating individuals.
us-ftc-impersonation.ai-agent-government-or-business-impersonation · 16 CFR 461.2 · official source · jurisdictions: US