Can you own your voice? Japanese anime star Kenjiro Tsuda takes TikTok to court over AI clone

Tokyo, September 28 - Renowned Japanese anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda has initiated legal action against TikTok over videos that allegedly feature an artificial intelligence clone of his deep, lustrous voice, with a verdict anticipated on Wednesday. This case has sparked a debate about the protection of vocal identity in the face of growing AI concerns worldwide.

The lawsuit filed by Tsuda, known for his roles in Jujutsu Kaisen and Yu-Gi-Oh!, is believed to be Japan's first of its kind, seeking to safeguard an individual's vocal identity from AI-generated copies. Tsuda claims that the distinctive voice in the videos can only be his, demanding TikTok remove the content. However, TikTok argues that the voice is merely a "generic male voice" whose similarity to Tsuda's is subjective.

The Japan Actors Union has expressed full support for Tsuda, emphasizing the significant time and effort invested in perfecting one's voice. The lawsuit highlights the perceived importance of an actor's voice as a fundamental right, which should be acknowledged by the court. The anonymous account responsible for the videos, often featuring Jujutsu Kaisen characters, generated significant revenue through its popular but dubious content, narrated in Tsuda's voice.

Tsuda's legal team argues that the account's success was due to the attractive voice of a popular actor, infringing on his publicity rights. The Tokyo District Court will determine whether TikTok was responsible for removing the posts. As the case unfolds, voice actors worldwide are rallying against the unauthorized use of their voices in AI technology, fearing its potential impact on their industry and the younger generation of performers.