Protecting Your Image and Voice from AI Misuse

AI can copy a face, a movement pattern, and a voice from short clips. The tech is moving so fast that contracts are not keeping up. We are learning the risks as they appear. Scottish voice actor Gayanne Potter has already felt the impact. She says a cloned version of her voice turned up in public announcements after recordings she made for Swedish firm ReadSpeaker in 2021. The synthetic voice, called Iona, was then used on ScotRail trains. Equity raised concerns, the Scottish Government stepped in, and ScotRail said the AI voice would be replaced.

In a situation this fluid, it's really tough for Actors to protect themselves, especially as AI is becoming a useful and popular tool for Film and TV creators. Here is a quick guide on what to look out for!

Five things to do now

Artists need to be very vigilant when deciding to engage with work that incorporates AI. A contract specifying the terms and conditions of the engagement is essential.

1. Look out for these AI terms. When you see scanning, photogrammetry, motion capture, digital double, performance cloning, model training, dataset, data mining, synthetic voice, text to speech, speech synthesis, internal research, biometric data, or broad phrases like perpetual and in all media. Before you agree to anything, ask for an explanation of what is being captured, how it will be used, and for how long.

   
   

2. Always get it in writing. Ask for an agreement that sets out what is captured, why, where it will be used, the time limit, and what the fee covers. Many actors have felt pressured on set to “jump in the scanner” or do a quick capture without prior terms. Do not be pressured into this! If a scan is requested on the day, ask for written confirmation of usage terms before any capture takes place.

   
   

3. All recorded material is now valuable! To protect yourself at selftape stage, first, check it is a legitimate casting. Look for a company domain email, a named contact you can search, a traceable project, and a secure upload method from the production. Then follow the brief exactly and do not add extra material that could be reused for AI without clear terms.

   
   

4. Separate AI consent. If AI is involved, ask for it to be explained on its own, not folded inside a general release. Look for limits such as this project only, no resale, no training of a general model, and a clear renewal path.

   
   

5. Make sure you include an AI statement on your communications and agreements, here's a couple of examples:

I do not agree to any AI use of my image, movement or voice unless we set it out separately in writing, with purpose, time limit, territory and fee.

The Performer does not consent to their image, likeness, movement or voice being recorded or processed for digitisation, synthesis, model training, performance cloning or creation of digital doubles, now or in future, except where a separate AI consent sets out the purpose, limits, time period, territory, security, payment and renewal terms.

The Performer does not consent to the processing of their recordings, intellectual property, associated rights or personal data for data mining, data synthesis, digital cloning or training of machine learning systems for any purpose, unless agreed in a separate AI consent that specifies scope, limits and payment.

This guide is for information only. It is not legal advice. For contracts or disputes, speak to your agent, Equity, or a solicitor.

For practical, up-to-date union guidance on AI including contracts, read Equity’s AI Toolkit for performers: equity.org.uk