California governor signs laws to protect actors against unauthorized use of AI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on laws aiming at defending Hollywood actors and performers in opposition to unauthorized synthetic intelligence that could possibly be used to create digital clones of themselves with out their consent.

The brand new legal guidelines come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee trade that’s more and more affecting the every day lives of Individuals however has had little to no oversight in the USA.

The legal guidelines additionally mirror the priorities of the Democratic governor who’s strolling a tightrope between defending the general public and staff in opposition to potential AI dangers and nurturing the quickly evolving homegrown trade.

“We proceed to wade by way of uncharted territory on the subject of how AI and digital media is reworking the leisure trade, however our North Star has at all times been to guard staff,” Newsom stated in an announcement. “This laws ensures the trade can proceed thriving whereas strengthening protections for staff and the way their likeness can or can’t be used.”

Impressed by the Hollywood actors’ strike final 12 months over low wages and issues that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, a brand new California regulation will enable performers to again out of current contracts if imprecise language may enable studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness. The regulation is about to take impact in 2025 and has the assist of the California Labor Federation and the Display Actors Guild-American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.

One other regulation signed by Newsom, additionally supported by SAG-AFTRA, prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for industrial functions with out the permission of their estates. Supporters stated the regulation is essential to curb the apply, citing the case of a media firm that produced a fake, AI-generated hourlong comedy special to recreate the late comic George Carlin’s fashion and materials with out his property’s consent.

“It’s a momentous day for SAG-AFTRA members and everybody else as a result of the AI protections we fought so arduous for final 12 months are actually expanded upon by California regulation because of the legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated in an announcement. “They are saying as California goes, so goes the nation!”

California is among the many first states within the nation to ascertain performer safety in opposition to AI. Tennessee, lengthy generally known as the birthplace of nation music and the launchpad for musical legends, led the nation by enacting a regulation defending musicians and artists in March.

Supporters of the brand new legal guidelines stated they’ll assist encourage accountable AI use with out stifling innovation. Opponents, together with the California Chamber of Commerce, stated the brand new legal guidelines are probably unenforceable and will result in prolonged authorized battles sooner or later.

The 2 new legal guidelines are amongst a slew of measures handed by lawmakers this 12 months in an try and reign within the AI trade. Newsom signaled in July that he’ll signal a proposal to crack down on election deepfakes however has not weighed in different laws, together with one that will set up first-in-the-nation safety measures for big AI fashions.

The governor has till Sept. 30 to signal the proposals, veto them or allow them to turn out to be regulation with out his signature.