U.K. — The 'Save Our Voices Now' campaign has launched a petition on Gov.uk calling for legislation to grant all U.K. residents legal ownership of their voice. Co-founders Peter Caulfield and Alice Sockett initiated the effort as concerns about AI voice cloning technology grow.

The campaign calls for legislation granting every person in the U.K. legal ownership of their voice. More than 80 individuals have signed an open letter associated with the campaign to support this statutory change.

An open letter regarding the campaign was addressed to U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The document outlines the urgent need for legal protections against unauthorized voice replication.

Nicola Coughlan, Matt Lucas, Hugh Bonneville, Siobhán McSweeney, Luke Evans, Jen Brister, and Pearl Mackie are among the supporters of the "Save Our Voices Now" campaign. These public figures have joined the effort to secure rights for voice owners.

Actor Hugh Bonneville emphasized the personal nature of the issue, stating that his voice is unique and part of his identity, and that this is worth speaking up about.

He added that the quote was handwritten, not created by AI. Siobhán McSweeney expressed concern about the pace of regulatory development compared to technological advancement, saying she is 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 that she believes there is a way to work alongside AI and use it as a tool that benefits people rather than rendering them obsolete, calling it an existential problem that needs to be controlled legislatively as soon as possible, and noting that her voice is one of her tools. McSweeney added that in order to adapt and move with technological advances, she does not see why the human element should be removed, emphasizing that audiences want human connection, not AI.

Alice Sockett, an audiobook narrator and co-founder, noted the frequency of violations, saying the issue poses an existential threat to the industry and that voice theft increases every week.

Peter Caulfield, the campaign founder, described the ease with which voices can be replicated, saying that in just three seconds, with the right AI system, a voice can be cloned, stolen and reinterpreted without knowledge. He continued that it is like a Black Mirror episode, except it is not fiction and is happening now, and that the government is allowing AI companies to steal and profit from artists’ voices without consent. He also said criminals are being allowed to use AI to clone people’s identities and threaten everyone, and that real voices must be used now to stop it.

The campaign states that 28% of U.K. adults report having been targeted by a voice-cloning scam.

What's New

Peter Caulfield is the founder of the "Save Our Voices Now" campaign. A petition has been launched on Gov.uk requesting statutory rights for voice ownership.

Caulfield stated that in just three seconds, with the right AI system, a voice can be cloned, stolen and reinterpreted without knowledge, and that it is like a Black Mirror episode, except it is not fiction and is happening now, and that the government is allowing AI companies to steal and profit from artists’ voices without consent. Denmark has implemented law reforms granting citizens legal ownership over their face, body, and voice. Hugh Bonneville studied theology at the University of Cambridge, initially pursuing a career in law before transitioning to acting.

Why It Matters

The campaign asserts that AI voice cloning poses an immediate and existential threat to identity and the creative industry, requiring urgent legal protection. Supporters argue that current laws do not adequately protect artists or the general public from unauthorized use of their biometric data.

Legal precedents exist internationally for biometric ownership rights, as seen in recent Danish reforms. The petition seeks to establish similar protections in the U.K., raising questions about how such ownership would be enforced against AI companies and what legislative response the government will provide.