Governor Gavin Newsom Passes Laws To Protect Actors Against Illegal Use Of AI

Governor Gavin Newsom Passes Laws To Protect Actors Against Illegal Use Of AI

The legislation will be effective from 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom has passed legislation to protect Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence (AI) use for creating digital clones without their consent.

The legislators made efforts to regulate the marquee industry affecting the Americans but had little to no oversight in the US.

The laws reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who's walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential Al risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.

In a statement, Governor Newsom said, "We continue to wade through uncharted territory on how Al and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been to protect workers. This legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used."

Inspired by the Hollywood actors' strike last year over low wages and concerns that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, the law will allow performers to back out of existing contracts if vague language allows studios to use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness.

Effective from 2025, the law is supported by the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

Signed by Governor Newsom, another law supported by SAG-AFTRA prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for commercial purposes without the permission of their estates.

The supporters stated that the law was crucial to curb the practice, citing the case of a media company that produced a fake, AI-generated hour-long comedy special to recreate the late comedian George Carlin's style and material without his estate's consent.

Fran Drescher, the President of SAG-AFTRA remarked, "It is a momentous day for SAG-AFTRA members and everyone else because the AI protections we fought so hard for last year are now expanded upon by California law thanks to the legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom. They say as California goes, so goes the nation!"

California is among the first states in the US to establish performer protection against AI. In March, Tennessee, long known as the birthplace of country music and the launchpad for musical legends, led the country by enacting a law protecting musicians and artists.

While the supporters said the new laws would help encourage responsible AI use without stifling innovation, opponents, including the California Chamber of Commerce, felt they were unenforceable and could lead to lengthy legal battles.

The two new laws are among a slew of measures passed by lawmakers this year to reign in the AI industry.

Earlier, the governor had indicated signing a proposal to crack down on election deepfakes. He has until 30 September to sign the proposals, veto them, or let them become law without his signature.