Fri Sep 20 12:37:41 UTC 2024: ## California Enacts Landmark Laws Protecting Actors’ Likenesses from AI Misuse

**Sacramento, CA** – In a move lauded by the entertainment industry, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two new bills into law that aim to protect actors and deceased celebrities from the unauthorized use of their likenesses in AI-generated content. These bills, AB 2602 and AB 1836, aim to ensure the responsible development of AI technology while safeguarding the rights of individuals.

**AB 2602** mandates that contracts between performers and producers must clearly specify the use of AI-generated digital replicas. These replicas are defined as “computer-generated, highly realistic electronic representations” that closely resemble an individual’s voice or likeness. The law dictates that such replicas can only be used for tasks that the artist would have performed in person, and that contracts must include detailed descriptions of the intended use. Additionally, performers must have professional representation during contract negotiations.

**AB 1836** extends these protections to deceased individuals, requiring producers to obtain consent from the estate before using their likeness for commercial or entertainment purposes. This law also prohibits the use of AI to generate replicas of deceased individuals without prior consent.

These new laws address concerns raised by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which campaigned for these protections during the 2023 Actors’ Strike in Hollywood. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated that “AI poses a threat not just to performers… but to workers in all fields.”

The new laws come at a time when the use of AI in entertainment is rapidly expanding. The recent agreements between SAG-AFTRA and studios already address the use of AI-generated replicas, but the new California laws provide further legal protection.

These landmark bills are expected to influence similar regulations in other states and countries as the world grapples with the ethical and legal implications of AI technology.

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