A “major studio” behind an animated TV series is asking child actors to hand over their voices for use by generative artificial intelligence in their contracts, according to a group of agents who specialize in working with minors.
The UK-based Young Artists Agents Association made the allegations in an open letter to the industry published on Monday. Deadline reported that the series in question is Peppa pigwhich airs on Nick Jr. In the United States
“Recently, a major studio that owns the intellectual property rights to an international children’s franchise producing a long-running animated television series offered contracts to child voice actors insisting that they agree to use artificial intelligence, allowing them to use the child’s voice in all commercial assets within their franchise,” said the letter, which contains more than 1,000 signatures from actors and actresses. “The refusal to remove this clause with a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude has prompted us to write this letter to make clear that this will not be tolerated and to draw the attention of the wider industry to this issue.”
Hasbro, which owns the trademark, did not deny in a statement that the series in question was such Peppa pig. “Hasbro is aware of the open letter circulating regarding AI clauses in child performance contracts. We cannot comment on specific negotiations or contractual arrangements,” the company stated. “Protecting child performers is fundamental to Hasbro; it’s part of our DNA. As industry standards around AI continue to evolve, we are committed to addressing this issue in a responsible and transparent manner.”
AYPA’s position is that any contract for a child actor should completely exclude the use of artificial intelligence. “Children cannot provide fully informed legal consent and a parent or guardian’s consent should never be used as a blanket license to capture, reproduce, train or reuse a child’s voice indefinitely,” the letter continued. The group argues that AI use of a child’s voice could determine a child’s career before they can legally consent to such a practice or fully understand the potential ramifications.
“We, the undersigned, urge you to adhere to responsible industrial practices,” the letter concluded. “Collectively, we reject all contracts that require child performers to give up sound rights indefinitely and without limits.”
The AYPA board says the issue is bigger than just one TV series. In the United Kingdom, performers cannot join the actors’ union Equity until they reach the age of 10, and parents of child actors are required to sign contract language regarding the use of generative AI. “Our letter addresses the global issue of companies supporting the use of artificial intelligence in contracts with minors,” the board said in an email. Hollywood Reporter.
