The entertainment industry in the US is coming together in support of a new bill that aims to outlaw digital deepfakes, which use artificial intelligence to recreate a person’s voice or likeness without their consent. The bill, known as the No Fakes Bill, has the backing of major players in the industry such as SAG-AFTRA, Disney, the Motion Picture Association, the Recording Industry Association of America, and tech firms like OpenAI and IBM.
Introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, the bill would create a federal right to one’s voice and likeness, something that currently only exists at the state level. SAG-AFTRA, a union representing entertainment professionals, has long advocated for such legislation to protect performers’ livelihoods.
The bill has gained momentum following a surge in AI-generated deepfake content, including fake pornography images of Taylor Swift that went viral earlier this year. The entertainment industry is concerned about the replication of their content and the potential devaluation of human artists’ rights.
Speaking on the importance of the bill, Senator Chris Coons emphasized that everyone deserves the right to own and protect their voice and likeness, regardless of their status in the industry. The support from both industry giants and tech firms highlights the widespread consensus on the need for laws to protect against unauthorized digital replicas.
If passed, the No Fakes Bill would mark a significant step forward in protecting the rights of individuals in the entertainment industry and beyond in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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