In a significant move to address the escalating issue of AI-generated deepfakes and unauthorized content manipulation, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced the Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act (COPIED Act) on Friday, July 12. The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Martin Heinrich of Minnesota, aims to establish federal transparency guidelines for marking, authenticating, and detecting AI-generated content while protecting the rights of journalists, actors, and artists.
The COPIED Act introduces several key measures designed to ensure transparency and protection for content creators. First, the Act mandates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop guidelines and standards for content provenance information, watermarking, and synthetic content detection. These standards are crucial for identifying whether content has been generated or manipulated by AI and tracing its origins. Additionally, the bill requires NIST to establish cybersecurity measures to prevent tampering with provenance and watermarking, thereby maintaining the integrity of content.
Empowering content owners is another critical aspect of the COPIED Act. AI tool providers are required to allow content creators to attach provenance information to their work and are prohibited from removing this information. This provision aims to protect journalists, artists, and musicians by giving them control over their content and setting the terms of its use, including compensation. The Act also prohibits the unauthorized use of content with provenance information for training AI models or generating AI content, ensuring that creators retain their rights over their work.
The Act also establishes robust enforcement mechanisms. It authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce the Act’s requirements. Furthermore, it grants content owners the right to bring lawsuits against platforms or individuals who use their content without permission. This legal empowerment ensures that violators can be held accountable, providing a significant deterrent against misuse of AI-generated content.
Lastly, the COPIED Act makes it unlawful to remove, alter, or tamper with content provenance information. This prohibition applies to all entities, including internet platforms, search engines, and social media companies. By maintaining the integrity of provenance information, the Act ensures that content remains traceable and authentic, safeguarding the rights of content creators in the digital age.
The COPIED Act has garnered broad support from various organizations, including the Seattle Times, SAG-AFTRA, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Recording Academy, the National Music Publishers’ Association, and the Recording Industry Association of America. Alan Fisco, President and Chief Financial Officer of The Seattle Times, praised the legislation, stating, “We applaud Senator Cantwell for introducing legislation that helps identify legitimate news organizations while attacking the proliferation of fake news. Trusted, local news is vital to serving our communities and protecting our democracy.”
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