Otaku USA Magazine
Senators Propose Act to Protect Voice Actors from AI Replication

A bipartisan group of Senators — Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) — have come out with the discussion draft of their proposed bill they’re calling the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act.

“Creators around the nation are calling on Congress to lay out clear policies regulating the use and impact of generative AI, and Congress must strike the right balance to defend individual rights, abide by the First Amendment, and foster AI innovation and creativity,” said Senator Coons.

A number of actors — including anime dub actors — have expressed concern about losing work to AI and other damages that AI can do.

Besides concerns about work, generative AI could help people commit fraud and spread misinformation.

“Songwriters, actors, and our incredibly talented creative community deserve the right to own their name, image, and likeness (NIL),” said Senator Blackburn. “This legislation is a good first step in protecting our creative community, preventing AI models from stealing someone’s NIL, and ensuring that those rights are given primary consideration under the law.”

A press release on Senator Coons’ site further explained:

“The NO FAKES Act would prevent a person from producing or distributing an unauthorized AI-generated replica of an individual to perform in an audiovisual or sound recording without the consent of the individual being replicated. The person creating or sharing the unauthorized replication would be liable for the damages caused by the AI-generated fake. Exclusions are provided for the representation of an individual in works that are protected by the First Amendment, such as sports broadcasts, documentaries, biographical works, or for purposes of comment, criticism, or parody, among others.”

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (a.k.a. SAG-AFTRA) has been fighting against companies replacing actors with AI, and gave this comment about the news:”SAG-AFTRA looks forward to working with Congress to finalize and pass this historic legislation.”

Source: ANN, Chris Coons

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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.

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