SACRAMENTO, California — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation Tuesday aimed at protecting Hollywood actors and entertainers from unauthorized artificial intelligence that can be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.
The new laws come as California lawmakers This year, efforts have been stepped up to the party tent industry that increasingly influences the daily lives of Americans, yet there is little to no oversight in the United States.
The laws also reflect the Democratic governor’s priorities, who is seeking to balance protecting the public and workers from potential AI risks with nurturing the rapidly evolving domestic industry.
“We continue to navigate uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media are transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been protecting workers,” Newsom said in a statement. “This legislation ensures the industry can continue to thrive while strengthening protections for workers and how their likenesses can and cannot be used.”
Inspired by the Hollywood actors strike last year due to low wages and concerns that studios Use AI technology to replace workersA new California law would allow performers to opt out of existing contracts if vague language would allow studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likenesses. The law is expected to go into effect in 2025 and has the support of the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.
Another bill signed by Newsom and also supported by SAG-AFTRA prevents dead artists by digital cloning for commercial purposes without permission from their estate. Supporters said the law was crucial to curbing the practice, citing the case of a media company that fake, AI-generated one-hour comedy special to reproduce the style and material of the late comedian George Carlin without permission from his estate.
“Today is a momentous day for SAG-AFTRA members and everyone else, because the AI protections we fought so hard for last year are now being expanded into California law thanks to the Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement. “They say if California fails, the country fails!”
California is one of the first states in the United States to introduce AI protections for artists. TennesseeLong known as the birthplace of country music and a springboard for musical legends, the state took the lead in March by passing a law to protect musicians and artists.
Supporters of the new laws said they would help encourage responsible AI use without stifling innovation. Opponents, including the California Chamber of Commerce, said the new laws would likely be unenforceable and could lead to lengthy legal battles in the future.
The two new laws belong to a series of measures passed by lawmakers this year in an effort to rein in the AI industry. Newsom spotted in july that he will sign a proposal to crack down on deepfakes in elections, but that he has not yet considered other legislation, including one that first security measures in the country for large AI models.
The governor has until September 30 to sign, veto or allow the bills to take effect without his signature.