Tennessee Governor Enacts Groundbreaking ‘Elvis Act’ Targeting AI Deepfakes: Tennessee has made history by becoming the first state in the United States to implement legislation targeting voice and image deepfakes. This groundbreaking move comes with the introduction of the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act, affectionately dubbed “The Elvis Act,” earlier this year.
The act builds upon Tennessee’s existing Protection of Personal Rights law, extending its reach to encompass “new, personalized generative AI cloning models and services that enable human impersonation and allow users to make unauthorized fake works in the image and voice of others.”
The music industry, particularly in Tennessee’s capital city of Nashville, has been a vocal supporter of the bill, recognizing the potential harm posed by deepfake technology. Now, with the bill officially signed into law by Governor Bill Lee, the state has taken a significant step towards protecting individuals’ likeness and voice.
Mitch Glazier, head of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), praised Tennessee’s proactive approach, stating, “We applaud Tennessee’s swift and thoughtful bipartisan leadership against unconsented AI deepfakes and voice clones and look forward to additional states and the US Congress moving quickly to protect the unique humanity and individuality of all Americans.”
Glazier’s mention of Congress underscores the broader ambition of the music industry. While celebrating Tennessee’s milestone, industry leaders are pushing for federal legislation to address deepfake threats on a nationwide scale. This unified effort reflects the industry’s commitment to safeguarding artists’ rights and preserving the integrity of creative expression in the digital age.
