US Senate Committee Unanimously Advances Landmark NO FAKES Act to Protect Artists from AI Voice Clones

The US Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously advanced the NO FAKES Act, a landmark piece of legislation designed to establish a federal property right over an individual's voice and visual likeness. The unanimous vote on June 18, 2026, marks a watershed moment for the global music industry, which has spent the past two years battling a surge of unauthorized artificial intelligence voice clones and deepfakes.[1][3]

Sponsored by a bipartisan coalition led by Senators Chris Coons and Marsha Blackburn, the "Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act" aims to give every American—not just celebrities—the legal authority to control how their digital replicas are used. The bill now heads to the full Senate floor for a final vote, carrying the overwhelming endorsement of the creative community.[2][5]

The legislation introduces a tiered penalty system with significant financial teeth. Individuals caught creating or distributing unauthorized replicas face fines of $5,000 per work, while companies face $25,000 penalties. Crucially, online platforms and streaming services that fail to comply with takedown notices could be hit with damages up to $750,000 per violation.[3]

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier celebrated the committee's vote, noting that 92% of consumers are currently worried about the impact of AI deepfakes on authenticity. Glazier praised the "extraordinary cross-sector coalition" that rallied behind the bill, which includes labor unions, child safety groups, and major tech developers.[2][3]

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. echoed this optimism, calling the unanimous approval an essential step in ensuring that human artists are protected from the unchecked spread of harmful digital replicas. The legislation has also garnered support from the three major music groups—Universal, Sony, and Warner—alongside tech giants like Spotify, Google, and OpenAI.[4]

The legislative victory arrives during a period of historic prosperity and transformation for the music business. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Music Report released earlier in 2026, global recorded music revenues grew by 6.4% in 2025 to reach a record $31.7 billion.[8]

This marks the industry's eleventh consecutive year of growth, driven heavily by paid streaming subscriptions, which now account for over half of all global revenues. Physical formats have also seen a massive resurgence, with vinyl records celebrating their nineteenth consecutive year of growth, up 13.7%.[8]

Against this backdrop of financial health, the industry is not rejecting artificial intelligence entirely. IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley recently highlighted that record companies are actively engaging in ethical AI licensing models, aiming to build an ecosystem where human artistry and machine innovation thrive together. The NO FAKES Act is viewed as the necessary guardrail to separate ethical collaboration from outright theft.[8]

Under the proposed law, the right to one's voice and likeness is licensable but cannot be permanently assigned away during an individual's lifetime. Upon death, the right becomes transferable and lasts for up to 70 years, ensuring that the estates of legacy artists can protect their catalogs from posthumous AI exploitation.[5]

To address concerns from digital platforms, the bill establishes a clear notice-and-takedown framework, shielding user-generated content platforms from liability if they promptly remove unauthorized deepfakes. It also expressly protects First Amendment uses, carving out exemptions for news reporting, documentaries, and parody.[2][5]

Despite the broad industry consensus, the bill faces vocal opposition from digital rights organizations and consumer advocates. Groups like Public Knowledge argue that while the legislation has improved, it still heavily favors the entertainment industry at the expense of everyday internet users.[6][7]

Meredith Rose, Senior Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge, warned that the bill lacks meaningful guidelines for "click-wrap" contracts. Advocates fear that ordinary users downloading an app could unwittingly sign away their likeness rights for up to a decade through opaque terms of service, leaving those without legal representation vulnerable to exploitation.[7]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the trade association NetChoice have also criticized the measure, arguing that the steep financial penalties create a dangerous incentive for platforms to aggressively over-remove lawful content. They warn that the counter-notification system is unworkable for independent creators facing false takedowns.[1][6]

Proponents of the bill counter that the latest revisions specifically introduced a robust counter-notification procedure to challenge erroneous takedowns and support free speech. The legislation also includes explicit exclusions for libraries and research institutions to protect educational uses.[2][5]

As the NO FAKES Act moves toward a full Senate vote, its progress signals a maturing relationship between the creative economy and emerging technology. By establishing a unified national standard rather than a patchwork of state laws, the legislation aims to secure a future where innovation flourishes without compromising the fundamental rights of human creators.[2][4]