Taylor Swift’s Home State Bans Musical AI Fakes in ‘ELVIS’ Law

Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation Thursday that will ban the commercial use of imitations of people’s voices and likenesses made with artificial intelligence amid growing concerns the technology could undermine the state’s iconic country music industry.

“The rapid advancement of AI is exciting in many ways, but it also presents new challenges—especially for singers, songwriters, and other music professionals,” Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R) said in a press release about the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024, or ELVIS Act (HB 2091).

Tennessee appears to have gone further than any other state in protecting performers against potential abuses of artificial intelligence months after strikes by Hollywood actors and writers highlighted concerns.

A growing number of states are considering restrictions on the technology with a particular focus on keeping AI-made deepfakes out of political campaigns.

People could file lawsuits against anyone who “publishes, performs, distributes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to the public” their “name, photograph, voice, or likeness” without permission under the Tennessee measure that takes effect July 1, according to the bill.

Parents and estate administrators would have authority over any content respectively involving underage children or the deceased.

Approval of the bill follows a series of controversies involving the use of AI-made content of famous people such as Tennessee native Taylor Swift and the singer Drake.

Action by the Volunteer State was a welcome development for the music industry, according to Mitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America. SAG-AFTRA was also among the groups supporting the bill, according to the press release.

“This incredible result once again shows that when the music community stands together, there’s nothing we can’t do,” Glazier said in the press release. “We applaud Tennessee’s swift and thoughtful bipartisan leadership against unconsented AI deepfakes and voice clones and look forward to additional states and the US Congress moving quickly to protect the unique humanity and individuality of all Americans.”