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MagyarTennessee legislators pass ELVIS act to block use of a person’s voice as well as technologies that reproduce a person’s voice without permission
Tennessee legislators have passed the ELVIS (Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security) Act, formerly known as HB 2091 / SB 2096, after Governor Lee signed it on March 21, 2024. This new law is the first ever that makes using or replicating another person’s voice without authorization a Class A misdemeanor, which in Tennessee is the same level of crime as an assault and carries up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and/or fines up to $2,500. It is no coincidence that Tennessee is also home to Graceland, the final resting place of legendary rock singer Elvis Presley.
The bill was introduced in January 2024 by State Senate Majority Leader Johnson and House Majority Leader Lamberth along with Governor Lee to protect musicians and artists from AI-generated voice clones and deepfakes. Currently, AI technology can clone a voice fairly well with a several second long sample and convincingly with longer samples.
Losses from AI deepfake scams are increasing, with one Hong Kong firm scammed out of $25.6 million in February 2024. Thieves worldwide are using deepfakes of family members in trouble to trick victims into giving up their savings and private information.
Musicians and creators are also at risk of voice cloning crimes. Criminals can deprive them of profits by using AI technology to create songs that use their voices, then posting these on non-official music streaming, online video, and social media sites.
The bill was supported by ASCAP, BMI, SAG-AFTRA, SONA, and other entertainment-related organizations as well as American Idol host and country singer Luke Bryan and other musicans.
Worried readers might want to use a voice changer to disguise their real voices and set up safe words with trusted family and friends to verify identity.
Source(s)
Gov. Lee Signs ELVIS Act Into Law
Tennessee First in the Nation to Address AI Impact on Music Industry
Thursday, March 21, 2024 | 03:08pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee was joined by legislative leadership and music industry professionals as he signed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, first-of-its-kind legislation updating Tennessee’s Protection of Personal Rights law to include protections or songwriters, performers, and music industry professionals’ voice from the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI).
Click here to download photos from the signing.
Tennessee’s music industry supports more than 61,617 jobs across the state, contributes $5.8 billion to our GDP, and fills over 4,500 music venues.
“From Beale Street to Broadway, to Bristol and beyond, Tennessee is known for our rich artistic heritage that tells the story of our great state,” said Gov. Lee. “As the technology landscape evolves with artificial intelligence, I thank the General Assembly for its partnership in creating legal protection for our best-in-class artists and songwriters.”
While Tennessee’s preexisting law protected name, image, and likeness, it did not specifically address new, personalized generative AI cloning models and services that enable human impersonation and allow users to make unauthorized fake works in the image and voice of others. Artists and musicians at all levels are facing exploitation and the theft of their integrity, identity, and humanity. This threatens the future of Tennessee’s creators, the jobs that they support across the state and country, and the bonds between fans and their favorite bands.
The ELVIS Act builds upon existing state rule protecting against the unauthorized use of someone’s likeness by adding “voice” to the realm it protects.
“Once again, Tennessee is leading the nation. Today, the ELVIS Act becomes the first-of-its-kind law to protect musicians from AI-generated synthetic media. The rapid advancement of AI is exciting in many ways, but it also presents new challenges – especially for singers, songwriters, and other music professionals. I was proud to work with Gov. Lee and my colleagues in the General Assembly to modernize our laws to ensure AI does not threaten the unique voices and creative content of Tennessee musicians.” -Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin
“The ELVIS Act puts in critical safeguards to protect the humanity and artistic expression of Tennessee innovators and creators. While we support the responsible advancement of this technology, we must ensure we do not threaten the future livelihood of an entire industry. This legislation is an important step in maintaining public trust and advancing ongoing efforts to protect and inform Tennessee consumers.” -House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland
“This incredible result once again shows that when the music community stands together, there’s nothing we can’t do. We applaud Tennessee’s swift and thoughtful bipartisan leadership against unconsented AI deepfakes and voice clones and look forward to additional states and the US Congress moving quickly to protect the unique humanity and individuality of all Americans.” -Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry of America (RIAA) Chairman & CEO
Additional industry groups that supported Gov. Lee’s artificial intelligence legislation include Academy of Country Music, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), The Americana Music Association, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), Church Music Publishers Association (CMPA), Christian Music Trade Association, Folk Alliance International, Global Music Rights, Gospel Music Association, The Living Legends Foundation, Music Artists Coalition, Nashville Musicians Association, National Music Publishers’ Association, Rhythm & Blues Foundation, Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), Songwriters of North America (SONA), The Recording Academy and Tennessee Entertainment Commission.
