Deepfakes are dangerous — imposters that take an artist’s voice or likeness without their permission in order to say, do, or endorse something they didn’t approve. It’s the most personal and costly kind of violation, damaging reputations, careers, and worse. Unfortunately, by now, the examples are too many to count.
The music industry, working together, has led the way in search of fair and practical solutions that protect every person’s right to their face and voice while encouraging the responsible development of AI, and protecting free expression and speech.
SAG-AFTRA worked early on with major record companies to achieve protections in collective bargaining agreements. Together, we won passage of the ELVIS Act in Tennessee. And now we are proud to join forces once again, with the entire music community and peers and partners from all corners of the American creative, technology, and advocacy landscape to push for passage of the NO FAKES Act in Congress.
NO FAKES is bipartisan legislation that establishes a Federal intellectual property right in a person’s voice and likeness. It gives everyone the ability to control if and how their personal attributes are digitally replicated while still allowing important uses that are protected by free speech principles — and it does so without slowing down AI or undermining American competitiveness. It hits the sweet spot of protecting people, free speech, and AI innovation all at the same time. It can’t pass soon enough.
That’s where our community is key. Already, hundreds of artists, actors and other creative professionals have added their names to a petition asking Congress to make this bill law. Let’s make it thousands. Top artists and executives have testified, explaining the stakes and the need for policymakers to act. The Human Artistry Campaign, a broad coalition supporting the bill, has now grown to over 180 organizations representing creators in over 35 countries. Let’s make this an American law that encourages global action.
There are many people to thank for getting this far. First and foremost, the artists and songwriters who have boldly led the charge. The AI community also deserves much credit for coming to the table to help find consensus that allows both artists and AI to thrive. Google, YouTube, OpenAI, IBM, and Adobe all support this bill and compromised to find a solution that works for all. The motion picture industry also worked diligently to find common ground that moves us forward while preserving first amendment, economic and individual interests. Broadcasters stepped forward to protect DJs, reporters, newscasters and over-the-air personalities. And groups that fight against child and sexual exploitation were immensely helpful developing protections that will prevent abuse across the board. We have built a strong coalition – now it’s time to push.
There will undoubtedly be some detractors — there always are. But we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Protecting voice and likeness as AI grows is too important. Join us now to make NO FAKES the law of the land this year. Go to humanartistrycampaign.com and add your name to the petition. Use the tool on the website to let your Member of Congress know that this bill is too important to ignore. Let’s work together to achieve a historic milestone for our community.
The NO FAKES Act proves that when we work together to find consensus on the biggest challenges, we can achieve monumental results. We can’t think of anything more important than standing by artists – and all people – demanding the right to protect their own voices, faces, and bodies. And we won’t stop until we get this one past the finish line.
Mitch Glazer is the CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, Harvey Mason Jr. is the CEO of the Recording Academy and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is the national executive director of SAG-AFTRA.
