California Adds New Laws To Protect Actors Against AI [Video]

California has set a new precedent in the entertainment industry by enacting two groundbreaking laws aimed at protecting actors from unauthorized use of AI-generated digital replicas. Read more details about the bills inside.

Great news for performers in the entertainment industry. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed AB 1836 and AB 2602, both designed to safeguard performers’ rights amid growing concerns over artificial intelligence in Hollywood.

The first law, AB 1836, offers posthumous protection by requiring the approval of an estate before recreating a deceased individual using AI. This regulation ensures that a person’s likeness cannot be digitally resurrected for films, TV shows, or advertisements without proper consent from their heirs. The other bill Newsom signed, AB 2602, specifically focuses on the rights of living performers. The bill makes it illegal for contracts to permit the use of AI-generated replicas to replace actors without their explicit consent.

These laws are the first of their kind in the U.S., …