On September 17, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom made a significant move to protect individuals from the growing influence of artificial intelligence (A.I.) by signing two pivotal bills at the SAG-AFTRA headquarters in Los Angeles.
The legislation, AB 2602 and AB 1836, marks a landmark moment for both performers and the entertainment industry at large, providing new protections against unauthorized A.I. use of voice and likeness.
At the signing event, Governor Newsom was joined by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. The bills, which were heavily supported by the SAG-AFTRA union, aim to safeguard the rights of individuals—both living and deceased—against exploitation through digital replicas.
AB 2602, the first of its kind in the U.S., mandates informed consent from performers before their digital replicas can be used in place of their actual performances. It also ensures that individuals must have legal representation when agreeing to such provisions, aiming to prevent abuse and exploitation of their digital likeness.
AB 1836 extends similar protections to the estates of deceased performers, prohibiting the use of a deceased person’s voice or likeness through A.I. without explicit permission from their estate. This legislation updates existing laws by removing certain exemptions previously allowed for the entertainment industry, ensuring that digital replicas are not used without consent.
Fran Drescher celebrated the moment as a huge victory for performers, stating, “A.I. poses a threat not just to performers in the entertainment industry, but to workers in all fields… We are so grateful to Gov. Newsom for recognizing that performers matter, and their contributions have value.”
Crabtree-Ireland echoed these sentiments, praising the bills for protecting both performers and their families from unauthorized A.I. replication. He also highlighted the efforts of key SAG-AFTRA figures like Joely Fisher and Jodi Long, whose advocacy was crucial in the bills’ success.
These new protections come as A.I. continues to advance, raising concerns about its potential misuse across industries. With these bills, California sets a precedent that may inspire similar legislation nationwide, further safeguarding workers and performers in an increasingly digital age.
REELated:
This article was brought to you free. The independent team who brought it to you is not. Please support Reel 360 News and Reel Chicago by donating here.
