Sean Astin Backs No Fakes Act for 160,000 SAG-AFTRA Members as AI Threats Deepen
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27
Sean Astin Backs No Fakes Act for 160,000 SAG-AFTRA Members as AI Threats Deepen
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27
Summary
Sean Astin told the House Judiciary Committee this month that AI deepfakes and synthetic likenesses threaten performers, making passage of the No Fakes Act his top priority as SAG-AFTRA president.
The bill would create a new individual intellectual-property right over name and likeness, which Astin called a potential “silver-bullet” fix while stressing the union wants to “civilise” AI rather than block it.
Astin, elected last September with nearly 80% of the vote, is leading a union of 160,000 actors, broadcasters and performers still dealing with issues exposed by the 118-day 2023 strike over digital doubles and streaming pay.
His push comes as AI tools spread across Hollywood, production has fallen by as much as 40% in recent years, and some industry leaders including Martin Scorsese and George Lucas have urged a more open embrace of the technology.
Could Sean Astin's fight to 'civilise' AI in Hollywood inadvertently hand major studios the ultimate legal power to clone actors forever?
With deepfakes already fooling corporate executives, will SAG-AFTRA's push for the NO FAKES Act actually protect everyday people from digital identity theft?