A group of U.S. senators recently introduced the NO FAKES Act, a bill created to protect figures from the usage of AI deep fakes to create non-consensual projects.
Introduced on July 31, the bill, known formerly as the Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe Act, will seek to hold those accountable for producing and sharing replicas without the artist or other figures’ consent.
Initially released as a draft bill in October by a group of Senators including Amy Klobuchar and Thom Tillis, the NO FAKES Act would create protections on a federal level that would limit the usage of someone’s name, image, likeness and voice to create content they haven’t agreed to. The restrictions would not expire upon the person’s death and could be controlled by their estate for up to 70 years after they pass away.
Specific protections would also be established for news coverage, parodies, historical works and criticism.
“Americans from all walks of life are increasingly seeing AI being used to create deep fakes in ads, images, music, and videos without their consent,” said Senator Klobuchar in a press release. We need our laws to be as sophisticated as this quickly advancing technology. The bipartisan NO FAKES Act will establish rules of the road to protect people from having their voice and likeness replicated through AI without their permission.”
The NO FAKES Act was introduced in the US Senate today! This bill gives all Americans property rights over their voice, image, name, and likeness. It is a huge and important step forward in the fight for the ethical use of AI. #NAVAvoices pic.twitter.com/iOLxpbWgeI
— NAVA (@NAVAVOICES) July 31, 2024
The introduction of the bill comes amidst an increased usage of AI in the media.
Amongst a series of diss tracks released between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, the Canadian rapper infamously included an AI-generated version of Tupac Shakur’s vocals. In his track “Taylor Made,” the West Coast legend could be heard in verses alongside Snoop Dogg.
The Tupac Estate responded in a letter, clarifying that they did not approve of using AI to replicate his vocals.
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” said litigator Howard King. “Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.”
Following the public denouncement of the project, Drake removed the track from his Instagram.
Other artists that have been affected by AI include Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and Drake himself.
