UPDATE: BIZ APPLAUDS HOUSE AI BILL

The No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas and Unauthorized Duplications Act of 2024 was introduced in the House on Wednesday (1/10).

In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee hosted a press conference to introduce a new bill that updates Tennessee’s existing right to publicity, which currently protects an artist’s name, image and likeness from being exploited without their consent, to include protections for songwriters, performers and music industry professionals’ voice from AI abuse.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. soon weighed in, applauding Gov. Lee and Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Nathaniel Moran (R-Tx.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) for getting the ball rolling.

"As AI rapidly evolves and impacts our creative spaces, it’s crucial that Congress recognizes human creativity as the center of the musical process," Mason said. "We are grateful to Reps. Salazar, Dean, Moran and Morelle for working to protect the voice and visual likeness of artists, performers, and songwriters from being replicated and exploited without consent. We look forward to working alongside our nation's leaders to ensure that music can continue to thrive in this new era of technological advancement.”

He added, "As AI technology continues to develop, today marks an important step towards groundbreaking state-level AI legislation. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will protect Tennessee’s creative community against AI deepfakes and voice cloning and will serve as the standard for other states to follow. The Academy appreciates Governor Lee and bipartisan members of the Tennessee legislature for leading the way. We’re eager to collaborate with lawmakers to move this bill forward."

A House bill regulating the use of AI for cloning voices and likenesses was introduced Wednesday (1/10) and immediately won the support of the music industry.

The No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas and Unauthorized Duplications Act of 2024 (No AI FRAUD Act) was introduced by Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Nathaniel Moran (R-Tx.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) It aims to combat abusive AI deepfakes, voice clones, and exploitive digital human impersonations.

“Universal Music Group strongly supports the No AI FRAUD Act because no one should be permitted to steal someone else’s image, likeness or voice,” UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said. ”While we have an industry-leading track record of enabling AI in the service of artists and creativity, AI that uses their voice or identity without authorization is unacceptable and immoral. We call upon Congress to help put an end to nefarious deepfakes by enacting this federal right of publicity and ensuring that all Americans are protected from such harm.”

The No AI FRAUD Act builds on the Senate’s Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act (NO FAKES Act) discussion draft released by Sens. Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar and Tillis.

RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier stated, “The No AI FRAUD Act is a meaningful step towards building a safe, responsible and ethical AI ecosystem, and the RIAA applauds Representatives Salazar, Dean, Moran, Morelle, and Wittman for leading in this important area. To be clear, we embrace the use of AI to offer artists and fans new creative tools that support human creativity.

"But putting in place guardrails like the No AI FRAUD Act is a necessary step to protect individual rights, preserve and promote the creative arts, and ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of generative AI. As decades of innovation have shown, when Congress establishes strong IP rights that foster market-led solutions, it results in both driving innovation and supporting human expression and partnerships that create American culture.”