Our faces and voices belong to us. Let’s make it law.

Many Americans reasonably assume that they are protected from having their identities stolen in the form of synthetic depictions of themselves saying things they would never say and doing things they would never do.

Shockingly, our nation’s laws do not ensure that we all have the right to say “yes” or “no” to whether someone else uses our visual likeness or voice to create realistic AI imposters. When images and voices are stolen, a person’s words are no longer their own, and a sacred trust between people is broken.

Anyone can make an audio or visual replica that is so realistic it could trick their closest friends and family members. Many are resigned to the notion that there is nothing to be done. They are wrong. Action can and should be taken immediately.

The entertainment industry has received the loudest reporting on this harmful behavior because the public becomes fascinated when famous people are depicted doing strange and often perverse things. This dynamic has thrust our industry to the forefront of the issue, but every day we learn that this abuse affects everyone. Schools have become a breeding ground for deepfakes, where AI-fueled cyberbullying has led to catastrophic consequences.

One defining characteristic of this threat hinges on deception. Speech that is falsely and realistically attributed to an unwitting person is, in fact, an abuse of that person’s freedom of........

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