Washington – A bipartisan effort to safeguard Americans’ voices and visual likenesses from AI‑generated deception is gaining traction in Congress. The Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act of 2026, known as the NO FAKES Act, cleared a Senate committee and is slated for a full‑Senate vote.
Legislative sponsors and purpose
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware are co‑leading the Senate version, while Representative María Elvira Salazar (R‑FL) and Representative Madeleine Dean (D‑PA) introduced the companion bill in the House. In a June news release, Senator Blackburn emphasized that “AI should empower innovation – not give scammers and online predators a free pass to exploit someone’s voice and visual likeness without permission.” The bill asserts that every individual holds a federal intellectual‑property right to their own voice and likeness, and it would permit civil lawsuits against those who knowingly create and profit from such digital replicas.
Key provisions
The legislation expressly preempts state laws on digital replicas, except for causes of action that existed as of January 2, 2025. This uniform federal framework is intended to simplify enforcement and give creators a clear legal pathway to protect their work. The bill does not target legitimate, productive uses of AI, such as historical illustrations, which remain permissible under existing platform policies.
Expert commentary
Laeeq Khan, director of the social‑media analytics research lab at Ohio University, praised the bill’s potential to shield vulnerable creators and informed consumers. “If the NO FAKES Act gets passed and cemented, it can be instrumental in protecting vulnerable content creators from this problem,” Khan said. He also warned that the fight against deceptive AI content is “an uphill battle.”
Khan coined the term “AI slop” for low‑quality, high‑volume AI‑generated content that floods feeds and erodes trust. He explained that distinguishing “AI slop” from genuine AI‑assisted art hinges on trust and verification. “When you’ve got videos mixing with real content at such a scale, it’s very hard to decipher what’s true,” he noted.
Practical steps for users
Khan urged creators and viewers to remain skeptical and verify suspicious accounts. He recommended using reverse‑image searches, monitoring posting frequency, and reporting obvious impersonations to platform moderators. Until detection technology catches up, the burden of protecting one’s own work will largely rest on individuals.
Local relevance
North Carolina’s recent AI legislation focuses on preventing sex‑related crimes, highlighting the varied state approaches to AI regulation. While the NO FAKES Act provides a national safety net, local lawmakers may still need to address niche concerns that fall outside the federal scope.
Next steps
The NO FAKES Act now awaits a full Senate vote. If approved, it would move to the House for consideration and, ultimately, the President’s signature. Supporters view the bill as a necessary step to protect American creators, families, and consumers from deceptive digital impersonation while preserving the innovative promise of artificial intelligence.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
