2025
January 2025 - SAG-AFTRA presents two A.I. panels at the Labor Innovation & Technology Summit: Negotiating A.I. Contracts - How Unions Can Advance AI Protections Across Sectors and Coalition Building on A.I. Policy - Breaking Down Key Legislative Approaches that Work.
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2024
October 2024 - SAG-AFTRA signs agreement with Ethovox, a company that is building a fully authenticated foundational A.I model for voice that includes the union’s A.I.guardrails.
September 2024 - CA AB 1836 and AB 2602 signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles headquarters. Also present for the historic signing were SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, and National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
September 2024 - SAG-AFTRA submits comments to FTC on impersonation rule for digital replicas.
September 2024 - NO FAKES Act officially introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
September 2024 - SAG-AFTRA submits comments to FCC on digital replicas in political advertising.
August 2024 - Illinois passes HR 4875, an update to the state’s name/image/voice/likeness law for digital replicas.
August 2024 - SAG-AFTRA and Narrativ announce an agreement that allows members to safely license digital voice replicas for audio ads.
July 2024 - NO FAKES Act officially introduced in the Senate. The legislation is supported by the Motion Picture Association, Recording Industry Association of America, National Association of Broadcasters, IBM and OPEN A.I.
July 2024 - Illinois passes HB 4762 , which offers the same protections achieved in CA 2602.
June 2024 - SAG-AFTRA rolls out new Dynamic A.I. Audio Commercials Waiver. The new waiver provides A.I.-specific contractual protections for members, requiring a performer’s informed consent for the creation of their digital voice replica, and additional consent for the use of their digital voice replica in any ad.
April 2024 - SAG-AFTRA members ratify Sound Recording Code. The contract’s artificial intelligence guardrails include that clear and conspicuous consent, along with minimum compensation requirements and specific details of intended use, are required prior to the release of a sound recording that uses a digital replication of an artist’s voice. Additionally, the terms “artist,” “singer” and “royalty artist” under this agreement only include humans.
March 2024 - SAG-AFTRA members ratify Animation Agreement with enhanced voice replica protections. This is the first SAG-AFTRA animation voiceover contract with protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence.
March 2024 - ELVIS Act is signed by the Tennessee governor, making Tennessee the first state in the nation to preserve individual voice, image and likeness against unethical A.I. use in the form of deepfakes and audio cloning.
February 2024 - CA 2602 introduced in the California Assembly. The legislation prohibits the enforcement of certain contractual provisions that allow for the use of a digital replica of an individual's voice or likeness in place of the individual's personal or professional services, unless the provision includes a reasonably specific description of the intended uses of the digital replica and the individual was represented by legal counsel or a labor union.
January 2024 - CA AB 1836 introduced in the California Assembly. The legislation prohibits the use of a deceased person's name or likeness in digital replicas without the prior consent of their estate.
January 2024 - ELVIS Act is introduced in Tennessee. The legislation updates the state’s Protection of Personal Rights law to include voice protections for songwriters, performers and music industry professionals’ from the misuse of artificial intelligence.
January 2024 - No A.I. Fraud Act introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. Salazar and Dean. The legislation will prohibit publication, distribution and transmission of an unauthorized digital replica without consent. It ensures that individuals have the exclusive right to authorize the use of their image, voice or visual likeness in a digital replica.
January 2024 - SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios announce groundbreaking voice A.I. agreement under which SAG-AFTRA members can safely create and license a digital replica of their voice. Licensed voices can be used in video game development and other interactive media projects from preproduction to final release.
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2023
November 2023 - SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical/Streaming strike is resolved with an agreement that includes historic digital replica terms and A.I. protections. The contract is later ratified in December.
October 2023 - SAG-AFTRA submits comments on A.I. to the U.S. Copyright Office.
October 2023 - Discussion draft of NO FAKES Act introduced in U.S. Senate by Sens. Coons, Tillis, Blackburn and Klobuchar. The legislation, drafted by SAG-AFTRA in collaboration with the Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association, will prohibit the nonconsensual use of a voice or likeness digital replica in sound recordings and audiovisual works and would create the first-ever intellectual property right in voice and likeness, allowing individuals to notify online platforms about replicas and demand takedowns.
July 2023 - SAG-AFTRA members strike the TV/Theatrical/Streaming Agreement due in part to the employers’ unwillingness to offer a deal that includes fair and fundamental A.I. protections.
March 2023 - SAG-AFTRA issues press release on mandatory subject of bargaining, meaning companies are required to bargain with the union before attempting to acquire these rights in individual performers’ contracts, and clarifies Global Rule One for digital replica use.
March 2023 - SAG-AFTRA co-founds the Human Artistry Campaign, ensuring that voice and likeness are included in its principles.
February 2023 - SAG-AFTRA presents A.I. in entertainment presentation to government, employer, and labor representatives at the International Labor Organization technical meeting in Geneva.
January 2023 - SAG-AFTRA presents CES panel track “Future Shock” on the impact of A.I. in the media and entertainment industry.
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2022
December 2022 - SAG-AFTRA makes its first public presentation on artificial intelligence issues in the entertainment industry at the Havana International Film Festival.