Senate analyzes regulations on the use of AI in dubbing and voiceovers

An initiative with a draft decree to make additions and modifications to the Federal Copyright Law (LFDA) regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence for dubbing or voice use in films, series, commercials, and other footage in the audiovisual industry in Mexico, to prevent unauthorized duplication of voice actors' voices and, consequently, the violation of intellectual property, is being analyzed by the Joint Committees on Culture and Legislative Studies, First in the Senate.

The senator sponsoring the bill is Beatriz Mojica Morga, president of the Culture Committee, who proposes amending Articles 21 and 27 of the Federal Copyright Law "to expand the moral and property rights of authors," specifically to empower individuals to expressly oppose the cloning of their voices by artificial intelligence without prior express consent.

The initiative also proposes an amendment to Article 117 of the same law to empower performers of material of this nature to object to any type of distortion, mutilation, cloning, or synthetic reproduction of the original voice.

Senator Mojica Morga also proposes establishing a mechanism she calls "notice & takedown," that is, creating a fast-track approach to identifying and disabling deepfakes, or any content generated by AI that is false or does not contain the author's consent.

In the event of violations of the provisions, the initiative suggests adapting the sanctions to the damage repair mechanism established in Article 216 bis of the Federal Copyright Law , the current version of which states:

“Repair of material and/or moral damages, as well as compensation for damages for violations of the rights conferred by this Law, shall in no case be less than 40 percent of the retail price of the original product or the original provision of any type of service that involves a violation of one or more of the rights protected by this Law.”

In light of all of the above, Senator Mojica Morga states: “It is true that AI can support processes such as cleaning up noise, adjusting timescales, and creating accessibility tools, but democratization is not dispossession. A system that only makes things cheaper by making those who create invisible is not innovation; it is digital extractivism. Protection does not seek to slow progress; it seeks to regulate it, to ensure that consent is explicit, that remuneration is fair, that the public knows when they are hearing a synthetic voice, and that there are rapid ways to remove abusive uses.”

Federal Copyright Law

The initiative stems from a series of demonstrations by the various unions that make up the audiovisual industry in Mexico, which have taken place in recent months to demand the protection of their work in the face of the threat of displacement due to the introduction of artificial intelligence tools.

One of the most visible protests took place on July 23rd at the Monument to the Revolution, where audiovisual workers demanded legislative attention to regulate the use of AI in the production of films, series, commercials, music videos, and other projects, given the increasing number of voice cloning using these types of technological tools without their consent. The demonstration was organized by the National Actors Association (ANDA) and the Mexican Association of Commercial Announcers (AMELOC).

But numerous voices have been expressed, not only within the audiovisual industry but also across various sectors of art and culture, calling for the protection of intellectual property and copyright in the face of artificial intelligence technological alternatives.

Last weekend, during the 67th Ariel Awards gala, Armando Casas, president of the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC), said:

“Let's not fool ourselves: we face crucial battles, economic challenges loom over us, professional challenges demand our efforts. And if that weren't enough, artificial intelligence is threateningly knocking at our door. Faced with this, we must be very clear that technology must be our sole creative ally, because the soul of cinema is irreplaceably human.”

Therefore, Casas emphasized that not only is it urgent to push forward with laws like the Copyright Act, but also the comprehensive reform, pending for several years, of the Federal Cinematography Law, the draft of which is completed, approved by all audiovisual industry associations, and ready for lobbying.

Mondiacult will talk about AI's

Between September 29 and October 1, ministers or cultural representatives from UNESCO's 194 member countries will meet in Barcelona, ​​Spain, for what will be the second World Conference on Cultural Policies (Mondiacult) of the 21st century.

The meeting will establish eight main points for discussion. Point seven is titled "Culture and Artificial Intelligence," and includes the following:

“Building on the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, this session will explore public policy avenues to ensure that AI development respects cultural and linguistic diversity, promotes ethical and people-centered governance, and safeguards the rights and livelihoods of cultural professionals. Particular emphasis will be placed on multi-stakeholder cooperation and inclusive participation in shaping AI systems.”

Details of the initiative

• Add Section VII to Article 21:

“Oppose that their works be subject to modifications, derivations, cloning, or artificial intelligence algorithms.”

• Add Article 114 Decies:

“Online service providers that host, index, or transmit content must implement an expedited notice and takedown procedure applicable to content with unauthorized voice cloning or emulation. Upon receipt of a notification that meets regulatory requirements, the provider must act without undue delay to remove or disable access to the content and, where appropriate, process a counter-notification from the alleged infringer, preserving the corresponding digital evidence.”