Feb 12 • 17:18 UTC 🇩🇪 Germany FAZ

Netflix Boycott: Voice Actors Continue to Fight Against AI Exploitation

Around 800 voice actors are boycotting Netflix over a controversial AI clause in its contracts.

Approximately 800 voice actors in Germany are protesting against Netflix by boycotting the platform due to a contentious AI clause included in its contracts. The clause permits Netflix to use voice actors' voices to train artificial intelligence, which has raised significant concerns regarding legality and ethical implications. In response to this, the German Association of Voice Actors (VDS) commissioned a legal opinion that deemed the clause largely unlawful, citing violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and copyright laws.

The VDS aims to protect the rights of voice actors from potential exploitation by AI technologies. The organization's chairperson, Anna-Sophia Lumpe, has emphasized that the existing regulations governing AI's interaction with creative work are insufficient and that fair guidelines are necessary to safeguard artists' rights. The ongoing boycott reflects the growing unease among creative professionals regarding AI's impact on their livelihoods and the creative industry at large.

While Netflix has so far dismissed these concerns and continues to uphold the controversial clause, the situation may influence broader discussions on the intersection of technology, copyright, and artists' rights in the digital age. As the conversation around AI in creative fields evolves, the outcome of this dispute could set important precedents for how technology companies interact with and utilize creative content in the future.

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