Legal and regulatory gaps around AI actors leave performers unprotected from exploitation and likeness theft.

The claim that legal and regulatory gaps around AI actors leave performers unprotected from exploitation and likeness theft is supported by several sources. The rapid advancement of AI technologies, such as deepfakes and voice cloning, has indeed created significant challenges for performers, as these technologies can replicate and misuse their likenesses without consent. According to Identity.com, AI-generated images and voice clones pose new risks of impersonation and exploitation, particularly for public figures and artists. The lack of comprehensive legal frameworks to address these issues is evident, as current copyright laws do not adequately cover AI-generated content, leaving artists vulnerable to unauthorized use of their likenesses. The Equity AI Toolkit highlights the need for performers to protect themselves against the misuse of their voice and likeness, as existing intellectual property laws have not kept pace with technological advancements. Furthermore, the introduction of new legislation, such as Tennessee's ELVIS Act, aims to address these gaps by providing protections against unauthorized replication of a person's voice using AI. However, the fragmented nature of these laws across different jurisdictions results in inconsistent protection for performers. Overall, while there are emerging efforts to regulate AI's impact on performers, significant legal and regulatory gaps remain, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and likeness theft. For more detailed insights, refer to the IAPP article.