A new legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives to address the growing concern of unauthorized use of deepfakes and voice clones. The legislation, called the No AI Fraud Act, aims to give individuals more control over the use of their likeness and voice in digital replicas.
Sponsored by Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), the bill affirms that individuals have a property right in their own likeness and voice, which does not expire upon their death. These rights can be transferred to heirs or designees for up to 10 years after the individual’s death.
The No AI Fraud Act sets damages at $50,000 for each unauthorized violation by a personalized cloning service. In the case of unauthorized publication, performance, distribution, or transmission of a digital voice replica or digital depiction, damages are set at $5,000 per violation or the actual damages incurred.
This legislation complements a draft Senate legislation introduced in October that aims to prevent the production and distribution of unauthorized AI-generated replicas of individuals without their consent.
Industry leaders have voiced their support for the bill. Mitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, stated that this legislation is crucial to protect individual rights and ensure the integrity of generative AI. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing performers, also supports the bill, with its president Fran Drescher emphasizing the importance of protecting individuals from exploitation.
The No AI Fraud Act includes provisions for a First Amendment defense, considering factors such as whether the use of likeness is necessary and relevant to the primary expressive purpose of the work. The bill mentions recent incidents of unauthorized use of digital likenesses, such as the creation of a song emulating the voices of Drake and The Weeknd and an advertisement featuring Tom Hanks’ face.
In addition, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee will hold a hearing on AI and the future of journalism, addressing concerns over the use of copyrighted material by AI companies. This hearing reflects the ongoing legal battles, including those involving The New York Times, related to the training of AI models.
The No AI Fraud Act aims to strike a balance between protecting individuals’ rights and promoting innovation in AI technologies. By addressing the unauthorized use of deepfakes and voice clones, this legislation seeks to safeguard individuals from exploitation and maintain trustworthiness in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
The source of the article is from the blog windowsvistamagazine.es