Photo Credit: Jason Rosewell

A group of actors and musicians have written to the UK government, demanding better protection against their voices being cloned and used by AI.

A group of more than 80 performers, including actor Hugh Bonneville and singer Sandi Thom, have written to the UK government to demand greater protection against their voices being used by AI. Together, they are asking Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce legislation that would better protect every person in the UK against voice cloning and AI training on recordings without consent.

Audiobook narrator Alice Sockett co-founded the campaign, calling voice cloning “an existential threat to our entire industry.”

“My voice is out there in the public domain but completely unprotected,” she said. “We’re seeing voice theft increase every week.”

Signatories of the letter include Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney, who said she was concerned the government was lagging behind as AI technology grows.

“There is a way to work alongside AI and to use it as a tool that benefits us rather than rendering us obsolete,” she said. “Our audiences want that human connection—not AI.”

Scottish singer Sandi Thom, best known for her 2006 hit “I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair),” said she was signing the letter because her voice “is unique to me and was handed to me at birth.”

“Behind that voice is the emotion, the life, the pain, the tears and joy that I’ve felt along the way,” she added. “Without creativity, we are nothing.”

Meanwhile, a government spokesperson told the BBC that “digital replicas can be a powerful tool, including for the creative industries,” but that there was still the potential for harm.

“We value and protect human creators, and that is why we have announced we will launch a consultation on how we address these harms while protecting legitimate innovation,” they said.

A few months back, attorneys cautioned that UK legislation had become “unfit for purpose” because of the rapid advancements in AI tech. “The law comes close, but it doesn’t fully protect your voice, your face, or your identity,” said Dr. Mathilde Pavis, Legal Counsel & Policy Adviser on AI.

Voice cloning technology undeniably serves important purposes, particularly for individuals who have lost their ability to speak due to illness. However, legal guardrails must be established to protect individuals’ voices from unauthorized exploitation while allowing the technology to advance. The initiative is part of the broader push for human protections against exploitation in the face of a rapidly growing technology landscape.