WASHINGTON, DC – The Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF) today reiterates strong support for the “Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe” (NO FAKES) Act.  

The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-CT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and joined by Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Madeline Dean (D-PA) in the U.S. House, would protect the voice and visual likenesses of artists across the music, film, television and other industries, as well as other individuals, from “deepfakes” and other unauthorized digital replicas. 

With the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled to hold a hearing on the NO FAKES Act this week, CFIF President Jeffrey Mazzella issued the following statement further explaining the importance of the legislation:  

“Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming an increasingly prevalent part of society and our economy, which presents the possibility of both significant benefits and extreme peril.  Whatever one’s opinion of the competing costs and benefits of AI, however, all can agree that it must not become a method to steal from artists and other individuals by appropriating their images, voices or other likenesses for improper gain.  

“Artists of every discipline invest enormous amounts of time, talent and financial resources to create their works.  Accordingly, it’s unfair to have those works violated and appropriated by AI for others’ exploitative purposes without approval and fair compensation.  

“Unauthorized AI deepfakes and other digital replicas threaten small, emerging and struggling artists and other individuals most, because they don’t possess the revenue or power to overcome their losses or vindicate their rights via the legal process.  

“The NO FAKES Act is carefully crafted legislation that will both protect against deepfakes and other digital replicas while at the same time providing important First Amendment safeguards for categories of storytelling such as biopics, docudramas, parodies and satires.

“The bipartisan NO FAKES Act has attracted the support of a broad range of stakeholders as it appropriately addresses an emerging threat. Congress should move without delay to pass it.”

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