Actors including Matt Lucas, Hugh Bonneville, and Nicola Coughlan have written to the UK government requesting enhanced protections against the unauthorized use of their voices by artificial intelligence (AI). The performers are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce legislation that would grant every individual in the UK a legal right to own their voice.
Voice clones are generated by training AI on recordings of real individuals. Quick versions can be produced in minutes from just a few seconds of audio, while high-quality replicas typically require several hours of training. Audiobook narrator Alice Sockett, who co-founded the campaign, described the situation as 'an existential threat to our entire industry.' She stated, 'My voice is out there in the public domain but completely unprotected,' adding that 'we're seeing voice theft increase every week.'
A government spokesperson informed the BBC that while 'digital replicas can be a powerful tool, including for the creative industries,' there is also potential for harm. The spokesperson emphasized, 'We value and protect human creators, and that is why we have announced we will launch a consultation on how we address these harms, while protecting legitimate innovation.'
More than 80 performers have signed the letter, including Derry Girls actor Siobhán McSweeney, who expressed concern that the government is falling behind. She remarked, 'There is a way to work alongside AI and to use it as a tool that benefits us rather than rendering us obsolete. Our audiences want that human connection. Not AI.'
In addition to actors, other signatories include individuals from various performing arts sectors. Scottish singer Sandi Thom, known for her 2006 hit 'I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair),' stated that she signed the letter because her voice is 'unique to me and was handed to me at birth.' She added, 'Behind that voice is the emotion, the life, the pain, the tears and joy that I've felt along the way.'
This letter comes a few months after legal experts warned that UK legislation has become 'unfit for purpose' due to advancements in AI technology. Dr. Mathilde Pavis noted in June that 'the law comes close, but it doesn't fully protect your voice, your face, or your identity.'
However, some individuals, such as those unable to speak properly due to illness, have welcomed technology that can replicate a person's voice. Yvonne Johnson, who lost her voice due to motor neurone disease, shared with the BBC's Tech Life programme in February that having her voice cloned by AI had 'totally blown her mind' and helped her reconnect with family members who had forgotten what she sounded like.
Others have taken the technology further, using AI to not only replicate a person's voice but also to create a holographic representation. Pam Cronrath from Washington state utilized the technology to surprise attendees at her husband's funeral, where a digital version of her deceased partner addressed mourners. She stated, 'I was completely impressed. It stayed with me.'