Unauthorized deepfake images generated by artificial intelligence would need to be removed from online platforms if they weren’t licensed by the person portrayed, under a bill the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced on Thursday.
The bill, which was approved by voice vote, would give individuals an intellectual property right to their voice and visual likeness, despite concerns from some senators that the bill needs refining in order to avoid chilling speech.
The bill would also prohibit distributing unauthorized deepfakes or offering a product or service primarily designed to create them.
Dubbed the “Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe” or NO FAKES Act, the bill is sponsored by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and has 15 co-sponsors, including seven Democrats and eight Republicans. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have both been particular proponents of the legislation.
The bill attempts to address the proliferation of deepfakes online without infringing on speech rights. To that end, it includes exemptions for parody, news and documentaries, among others. It also would create a system for counter notifications if an individual believes their content has been mistakenly removed online.
