Singer Taylor Swift, like any Tennessean, deserves to have control over how her image is used. Donald Trump is not above the law.
Heidi Campbell
| Guest columnist
Watch young Taylor Swift fan get surprised with the Eras Tour tickets
Edie thought she’d only hear Taylor Swift’s concert from outside the stadium. But her mom, Louise Bulcroft, surprised her with last-minute tickets.
USA TODAY
Former President Donald Trump recently shared a series of AI-generated images falsely suggesting that Taylor Swift endorsed his presidential campaign.
These images, which include depictions of Swift in ways that wrongly imply her support for Trump, are not only misleading but also raise legal concerns under Tennessee’s new Ensuring Likeness, Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act.
I was proud to co-sponsor the ELVIS Act, which took effect on July 1. The law is designed to protect Tennesseans — especially our songwriters, performers, and music industry professionals — from any unauthorized use of their name, photograph, voice or likeness.
Every individual in Tennessee has a legal right to control how their likeness is used, and this incident underscores the importance of these protections.
Trump needs to take responsibility for Taylor Swift AI images
Gov. Bill Lee emphasized the significance of this legislation when it was enacted, noting, “As the technology landscape evolves with artificial intelligence, I thank the General Assembly for its partnership in creating legal protection for our best-in-class artists and songwriters.”
The ELVIS Act is intended to prevent the misuse of another person’s likeness for personal gain, particularly through AI-generated content.
On a larger scale, Trump’s sharing of an obviously doctored image tells us more about his failing discernment.
Easily manipulated and impulsive as ever, his actions are far from presidential.
More: Taylor Swift, deep fakes, free speech and the push in Tennessee to regulate AI
But Trump’s attempt to distance himself from responsibility by claiming ignorance about the origins of the images does not absolve him of potential legal consequences. Tennessee law is clear: any person who infringes upon an individual’s name, photograph, voice, or likeness without prior consent is liable to a civil action and may even face criminal charges.
Courts should enforce Tennessee state law to the fullest
This case could be the first legal test of the ELVIS Act, and if so, it will be a critical moment for upholding the rights of our citizens.
Taylor Swift, like any Tennessean, deserves to have control over how her image is used.
Our courts should enforce this law to ensure that her rights, and those of all Tennesseans, are respected.
Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, represents portions of Davidson County in the Tennessee Senate.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66d9fe2106ff4251bb6f012b204cf979&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fopinion%2Fcontributors%2F2024%2F09%2F05%2Ftrump-taylor-swift-tennessee-elvis-act-artificial-intelligence%2F74999638007%2F&c=13702385038371710538&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-05 07:11:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.