Japan mulls "voice rights" to protect against unauthorized AI use

TOKYO - The government on Monday began discussing legal responses to the unauthorized use of images and voices of Japanese celebrities and voice actors, proposing to extend protection to voices to stem the proliferation of artificial intelligence-created fake videos.

An initial draft presented by the Justice Ministry to an expert panel proposed that voices of public figures, as well as their likenesses, should be protected by "a right not to be used arbitrarily." The guidelines, aimed at clarifying protections for voices, are likely to be approved without opposition.