Campaign against AI voice cloning gains support from celebrities
Nicola Coughlan, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Lucas have joined a campaign to protest against artificial intelligence (AI) voice cloning, reports BritPanorama.
Save Our Voices Now, which also counts Luke Evans, Jen Brister, Siobhan McSweeney and Pearl Mackie among its supporters, aims to halt the practice of using AI technology to replicate a person’s voice for any prompted speech.
Bonneville, known for his role in Paddington, remarked, “My voice is unique, it’s mine, it’s part of my identity. So is yours. That’s worth speaking up about.” He added jokingly, “The quote was handwritten, not created by AI.”
Approximately 80 individuals have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, alongside a petition on Gov.uk urging for legal recognition that would grant all British citizens ownership of their voice as a part of their statutory rights.
Derry Girls actress McSweeney expressed her concerns: “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.”
She stated, “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 highlights that 28% of UK adults report having been targeted by a voice-cloning scam.
Peter Caulfield, founder of Save Our Voices Now, warned: “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.”
This campaign arises as Denmark is implementing legal reforms to give citizens ownership over their face, body and voice, enabling them to demand the removal of unauthorized AI content and seek compensation.
The ongoing debate around AI voice cloning underscores the urgent need for a legal framework that balances innovation with individual rights.
