Studios And SAG-AFTRA Are United In Support Of Bill Regulating AI Digital Replicas

TV & Film

Aug 3

The unauthorized use of Artificial Intelligence was one of the striking points in last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. At the time, the studios expressed concern that such regulations infringed on First Amendment rights. It now appears, however, that with some changes in wording, the Motion Picture Association has united with SAG-AFTRA in support of a bill called the NO FAKES Act to regulate the use of AI digital replicas. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are sponsoring the bipartisan Senate bill.

Motion Picture Association CEO Charles Rivkin released a statement in favor of the bill. “We support protecting performers from generative AI abuse – and this bill thoughtfully establishes federal protections against harmful uses of digital replicas while respecting First Amendment rights and creative freedoms. We particularly appreciate the sponsors’ inclusion of safeguards intended to prevent the chilling of constitutionally protected speech such as biopics, docudramas, parody and satire – which will be necessary for any new law to be durable. The MPA looks forward to working closely with the bill’s sponsors as the NO FAKES Act makes its way into law,” Rivkin said.

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The MPA’s recent support comes after several months of SAG-AFTRA and other artist groups advocating for the bill. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s National Executive Director, said in a statement on Wednesday, “Without a federal property right over our voices and likenesses, we cannot control what others make us do or say by using A.I. generated digital replicas of us without our consent. For an artist, voice and likeness are the foundation of their performance, brand, and identity.” Crabtree-Ireland commented on the implications of failing to protect the artists while also expressing gratitude to the senators championing the bill. “Taking that voice and likeness is theft and there must be recourse. Thank you Sen. Blackburn, Coons, Klobuchar and Tillis for spearheading the mission to protect everyone from unauthorized A.I. replicas,” Crabtree-Ireland said.

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