California Governor Signs Legislation to Safeguard Entertainers from AI

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON – California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted two new laws aimed at safeguarding actors and performers from the unauthorized use of their digital likenesses in audio and visual productions driven by artificial intelligence.

Importance of the Legislation

The integration of AI within the entertainment sector is not new; however, recent advancements in generative AI, including virtual pop stars, have sparked intense debate. Many performers are apprehensive about the potential misuse of their likenesses, and numerous experts have raised alarms regarding the legal and ethical implications of AI’s rise.

Key Provisions of the Bills

One of the newly signed bills mandates that contracts explicitly outline how AI-generated digital representations of a performer’s voice or image may be used, ensuring that performers are professionally represented during contract negotiations. The second bill prohibits the commercial exploitation of digital replicas of deceased performers in various forms of media—such as films, television, video games, audiobooks, and sound recordings—without prior consent from the estates of those performers.

Wider Context

Beyond the entertainment industry, the emergence of AI has triggered numerous concerns, including its potential to disrupt democratic processes, exacerbate fraud, and contribute to job displacement.

The Biden administration has pushed for regulatory measures on AI, but a divided Congress has struggled to pass effective legislation. Earlier this year, Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee also enacted a law intended to protect artists, including musicians, from unauthorized AI use.