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Creators Battle AI Deepfakes: Your Likeness Stolen?
4 Aug
Summary
- AI-generated clones of creators are stealing videos and spreading misinformation.
- Platforms offer few solutions, leaving creators vulnerable to likeness theft.
- New legislation like the No Fakes Act aims to protect individuals' likeness.
Online creators are increasingly falling victim to AI-generated deepfakes that replicate their videos and likeness, causing significant distress and potential reputational damage. These AI clones, appearing on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, are used to promote misinformation and unauthorized products, leaving original creators feeling vulnerable.
While creators like Marsha Dunkel have reported these issues, platforms like Meta have not provided responses, and Google acknowledges automated systems but direct creator recourse remains challenging. Legal battles over likeness theft are often lengthy and costly, particularly in regions like France.
Legal protections are evolving, with the U.S. "Take It Down Act" addressing intimate deepfakes since May 2025. Federal legislation, such as the proposed "No Fakes Act," is advancing to offer broader protections against unauthorized AI generation of voices and visual likenesses, potentially allowing for civil lawsuits.
Creators are advised to take immediate action if they discover deepfakes, including recording evidence, reporting the user on the platform, and publicly responding on their own channels. Consulting a lawyer specializing in copyright or trademark law is recommended, as is reporting incidents to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
