What Is the No Fakes Act?

Sean Astin says the No Fakes Act would create, for the first time, an individual intellectual property right in a person's voice and likeness.

He is supporting the bipartisan bill. It would give everyone, not only actors, more control over unauthorized copies of their voices and likenesses, including deepfakes. The effort has been three years in the making, and the coalition now includes YouTube and OpenAI. Those companies want a law that explains what is fair to take down, because a takedown can raise First Amendment problems. Parody, news, and some historical material would stay outside the act. The bill advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is waiting for a full Senate vote that has not been scheduled.

Astin says an earlier answer of his was that Congress was not flat-footed, because the issue was hard to understand. A few months ago he thought Congress had enough information and should act quickly. He now says Congress is missing the boat, that people will get hurt if nothing happens fast, and that recovery will be hard.