80+ UK Stars Demand Legal Protection Against AI Voice Cloning as Scams Rise

Matt Lucas and Hugh Bonneville call for law on AI voice clones

Actors including Matt Lucas, Hugh Bonneville and Nicola Coughlan have written to the UK government demanding greater protection against their voices being used by AI. The performers are asking Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce legislation which would give every person in the UK a legal right to own their voice. Voice clones are created by training AI on recordings of real people. Quick versions can be made in minutes from a few seconds of audio, but high-quality copycats tend to require hours. Audiobook narrator Alice Sockett, who co-founded the campaign, called it "an existential threat to our entire industry". "My voice is out there in the public domain but completely unprotected," she said. "We're seeing voice theft increase every week." A government spokesperson told the BBC that, while "digital replicas can be a powerful tool, including for the creative industries," there was also possibility for harm. "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", the spokesperson said. More than 80 performers have signed the letter, with Derry Girls actor Siobhán McSweeney saying she was "deeply worried" that the government was lagging behind. "There is a way to work alongside AI and to use it as a tool that benefits us rather than rendering us obsolete," she said. "Our audiences want that human connection. Not AI." As well as actors, other signatories include those working in other performing industries. That includes Scottish singer Sandi Thom, known for her 2006 hit I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair). She said she was signing the letter because her voice was "unique to me and was handed to me at birth". "Behind that voice is the emotion, the life, the pain, the tears and joy that I've felt along the way," she said. "Without creativity, we are nothing." It comes a few months after lawyers warned UK legislation has become "unfit for purpose" because of the advancements of AI tech. "The law comes close, but it doesn't fully protect your voice, your face or your identity," Dr Mathilde Pavis said in June. However, some people - for example those who are unable so speak properly because of illness - have welcomed technology that can replicate a person's voice. Yvonne Johnson, who lost her voice due to motor neurone disease, told the BBC's Tech Life programme in February how having it cloned by AI had "totally blown her mind", and brought her closer to her family, who had forgotten what she sounded like. Others have gone a step further and used AI not only to replicate a person's voice, but to create a holographic representation of them. Pam Cronrath, from Washington state, used the tech to surprise mourners at her husband's funeral, where a digital version of her deceased partner addressed those who attended his wake. "I was completely impressed," she told BBC News. "It stayed with me." Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.

Nicola Coughlan and Matt Lucas among stars backing campaign against AI voice cloning

About 80 people sign open letter to Andy Burnham calling for legislation to protect voice ownership Nicola Coughlan, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Lucas are among a raft of actors backing a campaign against artificial intelligence (AI) voice cloning. Save Our Voices Now, which is also being supported by Luke Evans, Jen Brister, Siobhán McSweeney and Pearl Mackie, aims to stop the practice in which AI technology is used to replicate a real person's voice to say anything it is prompted to. Bonneville, star of Paddington and Downton Abbey, said: "My voice is unique, it's mine, it's part of my identity. So is yours. That's worth speaking up about." "The quote was handwritten, not created by AI," he added. About 80 people have added their signatures to an open letter to the prime minister, Andy Burnham, and a Gov.uk petition has been launched to ask for everyone in Britain to be given ownership of their voice as part of their statutory rights. Derry Girls actor McSweeney said: "I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing. "I believe that there is a way to work alongside AI and to use it as a tool that benefits us rather than rendering us obsolete. "This is an existential problem and needs to be controlled legislatively as soon as possible. My voice is one of my tools. "In order to adapt and move with technological advances, I don't see why we should remove the human from the equation. Our audiences want that human connection. "Not AI." The campaign claims that 28% of UK adults report they have been targeted by a voice-cloning scam. The founder of Save Our Voices Now, Peter Caulfield, said: "In just three seconds, with the right AI system, your voice can be cloned, stolen and reinterpreted without your knowledge. It's a Black Mirror episode, except this isn't fiction. It's happening right now. "The bottom line is the government is allowing AI companies to steal and profit from artists' voices without their consent. "They are also allowing criminals to use AI to clone people's identities and threaten everyone. "We need to use our real voices now to stop it." In Denmark law reforms are taking place to give its citizens legal ownership over their own face, body and voice, allowing them to demand removal of unauthorised AI content and seek compensation.

Hugh Bonneville among stars backing campaign against AI voice cloning | BreakingNews

By Casey Cooper-Fiske, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter Nicola Coughlan, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Lucas have joined a campaign to protest against artificial intelligence (AI) voice cloning. Save Our Voices Now, which is also being backed by Luke Evans, Jen Brister, Siobhan McSweeney and Pearl Mackie, aims to stop the practice which sees AI technology used to replicate a real person's voice to say anything it is prompted to. Paddington star Bonneville said: "My voice is unique, it's mine, it's part of my identity. "So is yours. "That's worth speaking up about." He jokingly added: "The quote was handwritten, not created by AI." Around 80 people have added their signatures to an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and a Gov.uk petition has been launched to ask for everyone in Britain to be given ownership of their voice as part of their statutory rights. Derry Girls actress McSweeney said: "I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing. "I believe that there is a way to work alongside AI and to use it as a tool that benefits us rather than rendering us obsolete. "This is an existential problem and needs to be controlled legislatively as soon as possible. "My voice is one of my tools. "In order to adapt and move with technological advances, I don't see why we should remove the human from the equation. "Our audiences want that human connection. "Not AI." The campaign claims that 28% of UK adults report they have been targeted by a voice-cloning scam. Save Our Voices Now founder Peter Caulfield said: "In just three seconds, with the right AI system, your voice can be cloned, stolen and reinterpreted without your knowledge. "It's a Black Mirror episode, except this isn't fiction. "It's happening right now. "The bottom line is the Government is allowing AI companies to steal and profit from artists' voices without their consent. "They are also allowing criminals to use AI to clone people's identities and threaten everyone. "We need to use our real voices now to stop it." It comes as Denmark is making legal reforms to give its citizens legal ownership over their own face, body and voice, allowing them to demand removal of unauthorised AI content and seek compensation.