Source: MARCA SUR

The US Senate has introduced a new bill that protects artists, composers, and journalists from using their content without their consent to train models or generate Artificial Intelligence (AI) content.

The bill presented on Friday, June 12 under the name Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfake Media Act (COPIED) in Spanish, “Ley de Protección e Integridad del Origen del contenido de los medios editados y Deepfake) also seeks to facilitate the identification of AI-generated content, to combat the increase in harmful counterfeits or deepfakes.

To face these challenges, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is urged to develop a set of guidelines and standards to trace the origin of content, add a watermark to it, and detect synthetic content, according to a press release.

In addition to transparency, the COPIED law recognizes the right of creators to denounce platforms that use their content without permission. This measure prohibits the removal, deactivation, or alteration of information about the origin of content, providing a solid legal basis for the protection of copyright in the digital sphere.

Notably, this legislation is the brainchild of Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell, however, this is not the first bill aimed at curbing AI abuse in the creative space; both federal and state politicians have introduced other AI-related bills or called for stricter regulation.

President Biden also ordered the development of AI safety standards by October. The measure would require AI platform developers to share key details, such as test results, before launching their technology. However, the COPIER Act stands out as the first federal legislation that would restrict how AI producers train their models.

This is a significant step towards protecting original content in the digital age. By equipping creators with enhanced tools and rights, this initiative is expected to contribute to a more transparent, secure and intellectual property-friendly digital environment.