SAG-AFTRA has expressed support for California Governor Gavin Newsom after he signed SB 683 into law. The union also acknowledged Senator Cortese for his role in advancing the bill through the state legislature.
The new law aims to provide individuals with a swift and effective way to address cases where their identity is used without consent for commercial purposes. It enables courts to order quick removal of offending content while legal proceedings are ongoing, reducing the risk of continued harm to victims.
SB 683 follows previous legislative efforts, including AB 2602 and AB 1836, which were enacted last year to address issues related to unauthorized digital replicas and exploitative contracts involving such replicas.
“This is a clear statement that California stands with performers against A.I. abuse. We’re grateful to Gov. Newsom; the bills’ sponsors, state Sens. Ashby and Cortese; and the Legislature for advancing practical, enforceable protections, with special thanks to our staff and legal experts here at SAG-AFTRA for their tireless efforts to help draft, promote and lobby so effectively as we work with the government to safeguard our society,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin.
“SB 683 will help remove unlawful content quickly, protecting the individuals whose voice or likeness is being misappropriated and the consumers who may be targeted by fraud. SAG‑AFTRA will continue to work with members, platforms, AI models and producers to ensure voice and likeness are protected in an AI world,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
