Senate Panel Marks Up NO FAKES Act as AI Bill Draws Hollywood, ACLU and Big Tech Fire
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 17
Senate Panel Marks Up NO FAKES Act as AI Bill Draws Hollywood, ACLU and Big Tech Fire
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 17
Summary
Thursday’s Senate Judiciary Committee markup will test momentum for the NO FAKES Act, which would let people sue over unauthorized AI replicas and deepfakes and could be folded into a broader AI package led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
Support has widened beyond Hollywood: SAG-AFTRA, Warner Music Group, YouTube, OpenAI, Disney and TikTok back the latest draft, saying it would give creators and performers a clearer legal tool against AI impersonation.
Opposition hardened this week as the ACLU and Center for Democracy & Technology urged senators not to advance the bill, warning it could chill lawful speech, while four major tech trade groups pressed for changes including federal preemption of state laws.
Industry groups are also seeking narrower carveouts before the vote, with video game companies pushing an exception for incidental likenesses and research libraries seeking broader protections for educational and research uses.
Blackburn’s emerging package would pair NO FAKES with the Kids Online Safety Act and the App Store Accountability Act, while also preempting some state AI laws after White House outreach to tech companies and child-safety groups.
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The NO FAKES Act (2026): Broad Support, Legal Hurdles, and the Future of AI Deepfake Regulation
Overview
As of June 2026, the NO FAKES Act is gaining strong momentum in Congress, driven by growing threats from AI-generated deepfakes. The bill has received broad support, especially from SAG-AFTRA, which collected 16,000 signatures, showing widespread concern about the lack of federal protections against synthetic media. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland highlights the Act’s rare cross-sector support and calls it common sense, long-overdue federal protection. This collective backing underscores the urgent need for timely legal frameworks to address rapidly evolving AI challenges, positioning the NO FAKES Act as a necessary response to protect individuals’ likenesses in the digital age.