WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) reintroduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to federally protect individuals from AI-generated deepfakes. The Support the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act clearly defines a person’s right to control their voice and likeness. The NO FAKES Act would address the rampant spread of unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes without stymieing innovation or censoring free speech.

“The use of AI is only growing, and Congress must catch up with common sense, common ground regulations,” Rep. Dean said. “By granting every person a clear, federal right to control digital replicas of their own voice and likeness, the NO FAKES Act will empower victims of deep fakes; defend against sexually explicit deepfakes; and safeguard human creativity and artistic expression. We must support technological innovation while preserving the privacy, safety, and dignity of all Americans.”

“In this new era of AI, bad actors are quickly and easily profiting from the creativity of others. Our laws must catch up,” said Rep. Salazar. “The NO FAKES Act is simple and sacred: you own your identity—not Big Tech, not scammers, not algorithms. Deepfakes are digital lies that ruin real lives, and it’s time to fight back.”

U.S. Representatives Joe Morelle (NY-25), Becca Balint (VT-at-large), and Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) co-lead the NO FAKES Act in the House. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“No one should have to worry about their likeness being stolen and used in a fake video without their consent,” said Rep. Morelle. “A.I. is moving fast, and the harm is already real, from explicit deepfakes to scams, fraud, and the theft of artists’ work. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan NO FAKES Act to make sure honest Americans, not scammers or algorithms, stay in control of their own identity.”

"Artists, creators, and anyone who uses the internet must have the basic right to control digital replicas of their own voice and image. AI is moving fast, and we need to make sure these guardrails are in place now, not later,” said Rep. Balint. "The NO FAKES Act is a commonsense, bipartisan, and essential bill. I am proud to join Representatives Dean and Salazar in introducing this legislation to protect Americans' right to control their own identity online.”

"The NO FAKES Act protects every American's fundamental right to their own voice and likeness while preserving the innovation and creative expression that makes AI a powerful tool. It holds platforms accountable while preserving First Amendment freedoms for creators—shining a light for industries and individuals that have operated in regulatory darkness" Rep. Moran said.

“Whether they’re Tom Hanks or an 8th grader in Wilmington, no one should worry about someone stealing their voice or likeness,” Sen. Coons said. “We’re reintroducing a stronger NO FAKES Act after working with stakeholders from across the country to make the protections in our bill more robust without compromising Americans’ free speech rights. I am proud that NO FAKES is the most advanced piece of AI legislation before Congress right now with the broadest network of supporters. Americans can’t afford to wait any longer for Congress to pass this bill and send it to the president’s desk.”

“AI should empower innovation – not give scammers and online predators a free pass to exploit someone’s voice and visual likeness without permission,” Sen. Blackburn said. “From artists and songwriters to students and everyday Americans, people deserve meaningful protections against deceptive deepfakes and digital impersonation. The NO FAKES Act would establish clear guardrails that protect the creative community in Tennessee and nationwide, and we are grateful to have more support than ever before for this bipartisan and bicameral legislation.”

The NO FAKES Act:

  • 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;

  • Empower individuals to take action against bad actors who knowingly create, post, or profit from unauthorized digital copies of them; 

  • Protect responsible media platforms from liability if they take down offending materials when they discover them; and

  • Ensure innovation and free speech are protected.

“RIAA proudly endorses the NO FAKES Act of 2026, a widely supported consensus bill developed through a bipartisan, bicameral process and championed by American AI developers, the creative community, child safety groups, conservative groups, labor unions, and free speech advocates. Polling confirms that 92% of Americans are concerned about the impact of AI deepfakes on our neighbors and culture and reveals near total support for a Federal law that protects voice and likeness. NO FAKES provides those important protections while securing freedom of expression, reducing litigation and achieving the full promise of American AI technology. We applaud the efforts of Senators Coons and Blackburn alongside Representatives Salazar and Dean, along with their bipartisan colleagues, on crafting this legislation that has also been recommended by the White House’s National AI Framework. This is an example of communities coming together to solve an important issue, and we are closer than ever to NO FAKES becoming the law of the land this year,” Mitch Glazier, RIAA Chairman & CEO said.

“The Human Artistry Campaign stands for fully prioritizing human creativity as AI evolves, expanding imagination, not replacing it, and opening possibilities rather than closing doors," Dr. Moiya McTier, Senior Advisor, Human Artistry Campaign said. “Preserving everyone’s fundamental right to their own voices and images is a critical and immediate need. The NO FAKES Act protects that right, while also supporting free speech rights and promoting responsible, ethical AI development. Senators Blackburn and Coons, Representatives Salazar and Dean have shepherded bipartisan agreement among their colleagues for this landmark legislation. Every American deserves a right to their own identity. As highly realistic AI voice clones and harmful deepfakes become more pervasive, this bill stands ready for passage and the time to act is now.”

 

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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