WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) introduced legislation to federally protect individuals from AI-generated “deepfakes.” The Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that clearly defines a person’s right to control their voice and likeness. NO FAKES Act would address the rampant spread of unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes without stymieing innovation or censoring free speech.
“As AI’s prevalence grows, federal law must catch up—we must support technological innovation while preserving the privacy, safety, and dignity of all Americans,” Rep. Dean said. “By granting everyone a clear, federal right to control digital replicas of their own voice and likeness, the NO FAKES Act will empower victims of deep fakes; safeguard human creativity and artistic expression; and defend against sexually explicit deepfakes. I’m grateful to work with Congresswoman Salazar on common sense, common ground regulations of this new frontier of AI.”
“AI abuse threatens the ability of Americans to express themselves publicly, both online and in-person. While states like Florida are taking action, Congress needs to address this issue nationwide,” Rep. Salazar said. “The NO FAKES Act will strengthen federal protections for your individual right to your voice and likeness and protect our ability to express ourselves creatively for the world to see.”
The NO FAKES Act:
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Recognize that every individual has a federal intellectual property right to their own voice and likeness—including an extension of that right for the families of individuals after they pass away;
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Empower individuals to take action against bad actors who knowingly create, post, or profit from unauthorized digital copies of them;
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Protect responsible media platforms from liability if they take down offending materials when they discover them;
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Ensure innovation and free speech are protected; and
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Provide a nationwide solution to a patchwork of state laws and regulations by January 2, 2025.
U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
“Everyone deserves the right to own and protect their voice and likeness, no matter if you’re Taylor Swift or anyone else,” Sen. Coons said. “Generative AI can be used as a tool to foster creativity, but that can’t come at the expense of the unauthorized exploitation of anyone’s voice or likeness. I am grateful for the bipartisan partnership of my Senate and House colleagues and the support of stakeholders from across the entertainment and technology industries as we work to find the balance between the promise of AI and protecting the inherent dignity we all have in our own personhood. I am excited to watch this bill build support on Capitol Hill and beyond, and will work to pass it into law as soon as possible.”
“Tennessee is known around the world for its rich music history and is home to an incredibly talented creative community,” Sen. Blackburn said. “Artists’ rights to their voice, image, and likeness must be protected under the law, and the NO FAKES Act is an important first step in protecting our creative community against the misuse of generative AI.”
No FAKES Act is supported by the Human Artistry Campaign, the Recording Industry Association of America, Motion Picture Association, Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, American Federation of Musicians, Artist Rights Alliance, Black Music Action Coalition, BMI, National Music Publisher Association, Fan Alliance, Organización de Voces Unidas, SESAC, Songwriters of North America, and William Morris Endeavor.
“The Senate and House are now aligned on a bipartisan, broadly supported approach that embraces responsible innovation while tackling harmful AI deepfakes with ethical, human-first safeguards. This alignment creates important momentum for achieving an enforceable federal intellectual property right this year. We applaud Representatives Salazar, Dean, Moran, Morelle and Wittman for leading the NO FAKES Act in the House. Their introduction of this landmark bill, also championed by Senators Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar and Tillis in the Senate marks a major step forward towards concrete new protections for artists, fans and everyday Americans – safely balancing technological advancement and fundamental rights,” Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman and CEO, said.
“The Motion Picture Association thanks Representatives Salazar and Dean for introducing the NO FAKES Act in the House which joins its Senate companion in this bipartisan, bicameral effort. 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 inclusion of safeguards intended to prevent the chilling of constitutionally protected speech such as biopics, docudramas, parody and satire. The MPA looks forward to working closely with the bill’s House and Senate sponsors as the NO FAKES Act makes its way into law,” Charles Rivkin, MPA Chairman and CEO said.
Read the full text of the bill.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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