Tennessee’s new ELVIS Act protects musicians from AI impersonations

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, R, signed a groundbreaking law Thursday, March 21, designed to shield artists from unauthorized artificial intelligence impersonations. The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security, or the ELVIS Act, addresses growing concern among artists about deepfake technology and AI impersonations that mimic their own voices.

This law recognizes an artist’s voice as a protected personal right and sets stricter guidelines on the use of someone’s name, image and appearance.

“The really great thing about this is Tennessee is the first in the nation to enact this legislation,” Lee said at the signing. “This will be a blueprint and we expect that it will be enacted multiple times over multiple states and, at some point, artists all across America will be protected because of what started here in the music capital of the world. We will ensure that no one can steal the voices of Tennessee artists and I believe that what we’re doing here today will ensure that no one will steal the voices of American artists once this is enacted across the country.”

The law has support from the music community. Lee, alongside stars Luke Bryan and Chris Janson, signed the act at a local music venue called “honky-tonk,” calling it “the coolest bill signing ever.”

“What an amazing, stance or, precedent to set for the state of Tennessee to get in front of this to be the leaders of this and to show artists like myself, current artists, artists that are moving here, following their dreams, to know that our state protects us and what we’re about and what we work so hard for,” Bryan said.

Today, I signed the ELVIS Act at Broadway’s @RobertsWWorld alongside @LukeBryan, @Janson_Chris & artists from across the state.

TN is the music capital of the world, & we’re leading the nation with historic protections for TN artists & songwriters against emerging AI technology. pic.twitter.com/oA8e4RRdxK

— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) March 21, 2024

“From Beale Street to Broadway, to Bristol and beyond, Tennessee is known for our rich artistic heritage that tells the story of our great state,” Lee added. “As the technology landscape evolves with artificial intelligence, I thank the General Assembly for its partnership in creating legal protection for our best-in-class artists and songwriters.”

The bill also received backing from the music industry and the Human Artistry Campaign, a worldwide effort by entertainment groups advocating for a thoughtful use of AI.

“This incredible result once again shows that when the music community stands together, there’s nothing we can’t do,” Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry of America (RIAA) chairman and CEO said. “We applaud Tennessee’s swift and thoughtful bipartisan leadership against unconsented AI deepfakes and voice clones and look forward to additional states and the U.S. Congress moving quickly to protect the unique humanity and individuality of all Americans.”

The ELVIS Act updates the Personal Rights Protection Act of 1984, which was first enacted to protect Elvis Presley’s publicity rights posthumously.