NO FAKES Act: where the US bill on AI voice and likeness stands
The United States still has no federal law on AI copies of a person's voice or face. The NO FAKES Act would create one. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously in June 2026, but a fast-track vote was blocked at the end of September.
What the bill would do
- Create a federal right in a person's voice and visual likeness.
- Make people and companies liable for producing or distributing an unauthorised digital replica of someone's voice or likeness.
- Set up a notice-and-removal process for platforms.
- Preempt some state laws, while keeping state laws that already existed in early 2025.
Timeline
- 20 May 2026: the NO FAKES Act of 2026 is introduced in the Senate (S. 4591) and the House (H.R. 8915).
- 18 June 2026: the Senate Judiciary Committee advances it by unanimous voice vote.
- 30 September 2026: a request to pass it by unanimous consent is blocked by an objection from Senator Ted Cruz, who cited free-speech concerns.
- As of late October 2026: neither chamber has held a recorded vote.
Until then, state law applies
Without a federal rule, protection depends on the state. Tennessee's ELVIS Act, in force since July 2024, already protects a person's voice against unauthorised AI imitation, and several other states have right-of-publicity laws that courts apply to digital replicas.
What it means for you
Wherever the law ends up, the safe practice is the same: clone only your own voice and likeness, keep proof of consent for anyone else, and label AI-made content when you publish it. That is how voice cloning on TalkMie works: one voice, recorded by its owner, for the owner's own twin.
Questions
Is the NO FAKES Act law?
No. As of late October 2026 it has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee but has not been voted on by either chamber.
Who blocked the NO FAKES Act?
On 30 September 2026 Senator Ted Cruz objected to passing it by unanimous consent, citing free-speech concerns. The bill can still come to a regular vote.