Regulatory Status
Amends Tennessee's existing Personal Rights Protection Act (TN Code Ann. § 47-25-1101 et seq.) to add explicit protection for an individual's "voice" alongside name, photograph, and likeness. Prohibits the unauthorized commercial use or distribution of any individual's voice — whether actual or AI-simulated — without consent. Establishes secondary liability for those who distribute AI tools or platforms whose primary purpose is producing a particular individual's voice or likeness without authorization. Signed March 21, 2024 by Governor Bill Lee; effective July 1, 2024. Public Chapter 588 (113th General Assembly).
Key Requirements
Consent Required for Voice Use No person may publish, perform, distribute, transmit, or otherwise make available an individual's voice — including AI-simulated replicas — for commercial purposes without prior authorization from that individual
Broad Definition of Voice Protected 'voice' means any sound in a medium that is readily identifiable and attributable to a particular individual, regardless of whether it contains the actual voice or a simulation of the voice
Secondary Liability for AI Platforms Any person who distributes, makes available, or otherwise provides an AI tool or service whose primary purpose or function is the production of a particular identifiable individual's voice or likeness without authorization is subject to liability
Platform Safe Harbor Media platform owners and employees are not liable unless they had knowledge, or reasonably should have known, of the unauthorized use
Civil Remedies Including Treble Damages Injured individuals may seek actual damages, injunctive relief, and treble damages when the defendant knowingly used an unauthorized voice replica; additional treble damages plus attorney fees apply for unauthorized replicas of armed forces members
Insurance Implications
Relevant policy types: E&O, CGL, Cyber
Compliance Gaps to Address
No documentation of AI tools used in client deliverables
No client disclosure policy for AI-assisted work
No human review process for AI-generated content
Unaware of AI exclusion endorsements in E&O policy
This Industry in Other States
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