A press conference took place today for the reintroduction of the SAG-AFTRA-supported, bipartisan Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act in the Senate. Sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn, Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar, and Thom Tillis, the bill aims to establish a federal right to protect against unauthorized use of digital replicas in audiovisual works and sound recordings.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher emphasized the broad impact of the legislation, stating, “The NO FAKES Act isn’t just about protecting actors, recording artists and broadcasters. Deepfakes can ruin all lives. It doesn’t matter if you’re a public figure or a high school student being exploited by internet creeps. It’s time to give humans the power to say NO, not my face, not my voice! Thank you Senators Blackburn, Coons, Klobuchar and Tillis for defending the rights of humans in the age of digital clones!”
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, also highlighted the bill’s significance for creatives, saying, “In the age of digital clones, deepfakes can be devastating. For the creative community, this bill is especially meaningful. SAG-AFTRA members and those who rely on their face and voice for their livelihood will be able to demand platforms remove illegal voice and image clones. Creatives will also be able to seek damages from those who intentionally cause harm. Thank you Senators Blackburn, Coons, Klobuchar, and Tillis for reintroducing the NO FAKES Act. As innovation continues to rapidly evolve, it’s time for commonsense legislation that defends individual rights.”
The NO FAKES Act is designed to maintain existing state-level protections, such as Tennessee’s ELVIS Act and California’s AB2602, while creating a comprehensive consent-based framework for digital replica usage across the United States.
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 professionals in various entertainment and media fields. As a proud affiliate of AFL-CIO, the organization has offices throughout the country, committed to securing protections for artists in the 21st century. More information can be found at SAGAFTRA.org.
