Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546062
Safe, or NO FAKES, Act. The bipartisan NO FAKES Act of 2026 is designed to protect the vocal and visual likeness of citizens from nonconsensual and unauthorized use, creating the first-ever intellectual property right in voice and likeness. After years of advocacy by the union and a broad coalition of partners, the bill cleared a major hurdle in June, unanimously passing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. As the NO FAKES Act continues its battle through Capitol Hill, here are details on how we've reached this point, where the bill stands and its features, and how members can take action today to further support this effort. DO YOU OWN YOU? It's not unreasonable to believe federal law protects our faces and voices. But this is not the case. Right now, nothing guarantees that you have the fundamental right to control or protect yourself from digital harm. Here's how the NO FAKES Act changes that. It: • Establishes federal protections in an individual's voice and likeness. • Requires informed consent for the use of your digital replicas. • Establishes a notice-and-takedown process for violations of your right. • Creates legal remedies for unauthorized distribution of nonconsensual digital replicas. • Allows individuals to notify platforms and ser vices of unauthorized uses of AI-generated work for removal. SUPERBOOSTING YOUR RIGHT (TO EXPRESSION) The NO FAKES Act promises protections for your identity, not restrictions on your freedom of expression. With bipartisan input and support, the bill explicitly includes exemptions for news, public affairs, commentary, criticism, scholarship, satire, parody and biographical works, as well as limited documentary or historical uses — all protected rights under the First Amendment. SAG-AFTRA PLAYS A LEAD ROLE SAG-AFTRA has championed the NO FAKES Act since it was first introduced in 2023, and has pushed to further educate members and the public on why this legislation is so important. In an era when labor, technology and entertainment groups often disagree on AI policy, SAG-AFTRA has worked to build support from a remarkably broad coalition united around the principle that individuals should control the use of their own voice and likeness. Stakeholders include the AFL-CIO, Google/YouTube, IBM, the Motion Picture Association, the Recording Industry Association of America, the American Medical Association, the A THREE-YEAR FIGHT The NO FAKES Act was first introduced in 2023, and we have worked diligently to build bipartisan and broad industr y and labor support. Each successive introduction of NO FAKES, in 2024 and 2025, resulted in an increase in sponsors and stakeholders. The Senate Judiciar y Committee unanimously advanced the legislation on June 16, 2026.Soon after that milestone achievement, on June 30, SAG-AF TR A President Sean Astin testified in support of the NO FAKES Act to the House Judiciar y Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet.