A coalition of British performers, including Hugh Bonneville, Nicola Coughlan, and Matt Lucas, is calling on the UK government to implement legal protections against the unauthorized use of their voices by artificial intelligence companies. The campaign, known as Save Our Voices Now, seeks to establish clear legal ownership of voices for artists.
Almost 80 performers have lent their support to an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, demanding "clear, enforceable and legal ownership" of their vocal identities. Bonneville, known for his roles in "Paddington" and "Downton Abbey," emphasized the personal nature of his voice, stating, "My voice is unique, it's mine, it's part of my identity. So is yours. That's worth speaking up about."
The campaign highlights the rapid advancement of AI technology, which can clone a person's voice from a small sample and generate new speech without consent. Siobhan McSweeney, an actor from "Derry Girls," expressed concern that legal frameworks, contracts, and ethical considerations are not keeping pace with technological progress. "I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing," she said.
Peter Caulfield, the founder of Save Our Voices Now and a voice artist himself, drew parallels between the current situation and the dystopian television series "Black Mirror." He stated that within three seconds, an AI system can clone, steal, and repurpose a voice without the individual's knowledge, emphasizing that this is no longer fiction but a present reality.
Campaigners are urging the government to take action, arguing that current regulations allow AI companies to profit from artists' voices without permission. They also raise concerns about the potential for AI-generated voice cloning to be used by criminals for identity theft and threats. The group advocates for a legislative approach to control the misuse of this technology.
Save Our Voices Now is looking to Denmark as a model, a country that has introduced legislation granting citizens full legal control over AI-generated imitations of their likeness and voice. These protections enable individuals to request the removal of unauthorized content and seek compensation for its misuse. An accompanying online petition calls for universal ownership of one's voice to be recognized as a statutory right.