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Gov. Newsom, Fran Drescher Celebrate Signing of AI Bills, Including AB 2602, Protecting Performers' Likenesses

Sep 18, 2024, 02:26 AM

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two significant bills aimed at protecting actors and performers from unauthorized use of their digital likenesses by artificial intelligence. The legislation, backed by the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and supported by its President Fran Drescher, was signed at SAG-AFTRA headquarters in Los Angeles. The new laws, including AB 2602, require explicit consent from individuals or their estates for the creation and use of AI-generated digital replicas of their voice or likeness. This move is seen as a crucial step in safeguarding performers' rights in the evolving AI landscape. Additionally, Newsom signed three other bills targeting the use of AI in political ads, making it illegal to create and distribute materially deceptive content, including deepfakes, in election communications. These measures, signed at the Dreamforce event, are intended to protect the integrity of elections and prevent the spread of misinformation.