Is using AI voice impersonation of artists illegal?

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has opened up many new applications in the field of content creation. With just a few simple steps, users can create an audio clip that closely resembles the voice or singing voice of a celebrity through AI voice technology. However, the use of AI to impersonate artists is raising many controversies regarding personal rights, related rights, and legal liability of users. So, is using AI voice impersonation of artists illegal? Let’s find out in the article below!

What is AI voice impersonation of artists?

AI voice (artificial voice) is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to simulate or recreate a person’s voice based on trained audio data.

For artists, AI can:

• Simulate the voice when hosting a show;

• Recreate the singing voice of a singer;

• Creating commercials using celebrity voices;

• Voice-over for videos or films;

• Creating entertaining content for social media.

Thanks to their ability to mimic intonation, timbre, and pronunciation, many AI voice products today can make it difficult for listeners to distinguish them from the real voices of artists.

Does Vietnamese law protect the voices of artists?

Although the Intellectual Property Law does not directly regulate the protection of “voices,” the voices of artists can be protected through various legal mechanisms.

Rights to image, identity, and privacy

According to Article 32 of the 2015 Civil Code: Individuals have the right to their own image. The use of an individual’s image must be with their consent, except in cases where the law provides otherwise.

Although the law directly addresses images, in practice, voice is considered a personal identifier similar to images, names, or reputations.

If AI voice is used to mislead the public into believing that an artist has spoken or participated in a particular content, the artist’s personal rights may be violated.

Related rights regarding performances

According to Article 29 of the Intellectual Property Law, performers have rights to their performances.

These rights include:

• The right to be named during performances;

• The right to protect the integrity of the performance image;

• The right to permit or prohibit the exploitation of the performance.

If an AI system is trained using recordings of an artist’s performance without permission, this act may give rise to disputes over related rights.

Is using AI voice impersonation of an artist illegal?

Depending on the purpose and method of use, using AI voice impersonation to mimic artists may or may not be illegal.

Cases where it may not be illegal:

Using AI voice generally poses little risk of legal violation if it meets the following conditions:

• For personal research and learning purposes only;

• Not publicly available online;

• Not for commercial exploitation;

• Does not cause public confusion;

• Does not affect the reputation or honor of the artist.

For example, an individual using AI to experiment with technology to create a voice similar to a famous singer but not releasing it to the public will have a lower chance of causing a dispute.

Cases where it may be illegal:

Users of AI voice may face legal risks if they engage in any of the following actions:

• Impersonating an artist to advertise products;

• Creating false statements that cause misunderstanding;

• Uploading AI-generated songs using artists’ voices to digital platforms;

• Profiting from voice-mimicking content;

• Damaging the honor, reputation, or image of artists.

In these cases, the conduct may infringe upon personal rights, related rights, or other civil rights protected by law.

What are the penalties for using AI voice impersonation to mimic artists’ voices?

Depending on the specific case, users of AI voice impersonation to mimic artists’ voices may face different penalties.

Civil liability

According to the 2015 Civil Code, individuals have the right to request:

• Cessation of the infringing act;

• A public apology and correction;

• Compensation for damages;

• Removal of the infringing content.

Administrative penalties

If the act infringes on the copyright, related rights, or personal rights of others, the infringing individual or organization may be penalized according to the provisions of the law on intellectual property, advertising, telecommunications, or cybersecurity, depending on the specific case.

Criminal liability

In cases where AI is used to falsify information, commit fraud, or gain illicit profits on a large scale, the infringer may be subject to criminal liability according to the corresponding provisions of the Criminal Code.

The above is an article titled “Is using AI voice impersonation of artists illegal?”. Hopefully, the information above has helped you better understand the legal risks associated with using AI voice technology. In the context of the ever-developing artificial intelligence, respecting the legal rights and interests of artists not only helps limit disputes but also contributes to building a healthy and sustainable digital creative environment.

Sincerely,

FAQ