Congressman Issa Introduces Landmark Legislation to Stop the Misuse of AI-Generated Digital Replicas
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, introduced the Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act (PADRA), landmark legislation to protect the voice, image, and likeness of individuals from being used commercially in unauthorized ways. He is joined by Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Chairman of the House Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and Congressman Ben Cline (VA-6), a member of both the Subcommittee and the Task Force.
“As AI continues its integration into every facet of our lives, its inherent perils and potential become more evident by the day,” said Rep. Issa. “PADRA ensures that innovators and creators can protect their voice, image, and likeness from unauthorized use and establishes a new and better way to keep and defend what inherently belongs to each of us.”
This bill represents a crucial step toward safeguarding personal identity in the age of AI and defines a baseline of federally recognized protections against clear misuses of digital replicas.
Specifically, PADRA will:
For the first time under federal law, target the commercial misuse of digital replicas of individuals’ identifying characteristics, such as their likeness or voice.
Protect the public from the deceptive use of digital replicas to confuse consumers about an individual’s endorsement or affiliation with a product, service, or other commercial activity.
Adapt and strengthen existing trademark law under the Lanham Act, minimizing uncertainty about scope, process, and court interpretation by utilizing well-understood regimes for remedies, jurisdiction and evidentiary issues.
Empower individuals to enforce their own rights against bad actors without the need for new federal government authority or bureaucracy, imposing essentially no costs to U.S. taxpayers and avoiding burdensome regulations that would hinder U.S. innovation or competitiveness in AI technology.
PADRA embodies the culmination of Rep. Issa’s work on the issue of digital replica misuse with AI technology in the 118th Congress as Chairman of the Subcommittee and a senior member of the AI Task Force. This introduction is a critical step toward the important work that will continue at the start of the next Congress.
“With the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence, we are witnessing an alarming increase in the use of digital replicas to mislead consumers,” Congressman Ben Cline said. “The use of deepfakes to mislead the public, as seen with figures like Tom Hanks and Lainey Wilson, is completely unacceptable. That’s why I am proud to support the Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act (PADRA). This vital legislation empowers individuals to protect their identities and holds offenders accountable for their deceitful actions. We must continue to combat this growing threat and ensure the integrity of our digital landscape."
“The introduction of the Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act is a crucial step toward protecting Americans from the misuse of fraudulent digital replicas, safeguarding both individual identity and consumer trust,” said Rep. Obernolte. “PADRA strikes the right balance by proposing a robust federal framework that prevents exploitation, supports victims, and preserves our First Amendment rights. In a rapidly changing digital age, this bill ensures that innovation does not come at the cost of integrity or personal freedom.”
The bill text can be found here.
What Industry Leaders and Other Stakeholders Are Saying About PADRA:
Scott Belsky, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, Design & Emerging Products, Adobe
“Congressman Issa’s Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act (PADRA) is a critical step in ensuring the responsible use of AI-generated content. Adobe has been advocating for a federal anti-impersonation right that can help protect creators and combat bad actors who use AI to mimic an artist’s style for commercial gain. We all share a responsibility to ensure this technology is developed and deployed in a way that benefits everyone and are encouraged by the momentum around thoughtful legislative solutions like PADRA, which aims to address the commercial misuse of AI and safeguard the intellectual property of the creative community. We believe that solutions work best when they are built off of input from the community they are intended to protect, and Adobe remains committed to advocating for policies that support artists and empower them to thrive in the age of AI.”
Business Software Alliance
"BSA urges Congress to take steps against the spread of unauthorized AI-generated digital replicas that harm artists, performers, and other creators. BSA commends Congressman Issa for introducing the Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act (PADRA), which advances the debate over how best to ensure that every artist, performer, and creator is protected under federal law from unfair acts of digital replication."
Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of RIAA
“We thank Chairman Issa for his commitment to protecting artists against the use of digital replicas that steal their voice and likeness for false product endorsements and other trademark violations. We look forward to working with him in the new Congress to improve protections while preserving current Federal and State trademark statutes that protect consumers against harmful deep fakes. These protections, along with those in the NO FAKES Act, will support and recognize ethical AI development, while preventing real harm.”
Motion Picture Association
“The Motion Picture Association appreciates Congressman Issa’s effort to combat deceptive uses of digital replicas with the Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act (PADRA). The misuse of highly realistic depictions of an individual’s image, voice, and likeness can confuse and deceive consumers. We look forward to working with Congressman Issa on the important goal of protecting Americans from such marketplace harms, while preserving the First Amendment rights of filmmakers, journalists, and other creators.”
Dr. Richard James Burgess, President and CEO, A2IM (American Association of Independent Music)
“Independent labels invest decades in developing artists’ unique brands and fanbases—assets generative AI can exploit with disturbing ease. PADRA, introduced by Chairman Issa, addresses critical issues around responsible AI use. Misleading fakes not only mimic voice and likeness but also the distinct artistic essence of an artist’s work, and this bill breaks new ground with recognition of that truth. A2IM looks forward to working next Congress on bills like PADRA and the NO FAKES Act to safeguard creators and ensure fairness in the digital age.”
Songwriters of North America
“The Songwriters of North America applaud Congressman Issa’s leadership on bringing the complicated discussion surrounding AI to the forefront on Capitol Hill. Creators need guardrails to help respect and protect our work in the digital age. The Protecting Abuse of Digital Replicas Act (PADRA) is an important step to help ensure responsible behavior around the fair and authorized use of our music.”
American Society for Collective Rights Licensing
“The American Society for Collective Rights Licensing, Inc., (ASCRL), is the largest visual materials trade organization in the United States, representing over 50,000 illustrators and photographers with published works. ASCRL wishes to thank you and your staff for the important work being done with the preventing Abuse of Digital Replica's Act (PADRA).”
Professional Photographers of America
“The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) join in supporting “The Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act” (PADRA) and look forward to working with Chairman Issa and the Committee to protect professional photographers and other small creators from abuses caused by the scraping of their images through Generative AI. On behalf of PPA’s 35,000 professional photographer members, we thank the Chairman for his leadership at this crucial time when Generative AI is threatening the very livelihood of visual artists.”
Concept Art Association
“Concept Art Association is pleased to support PADRA. With fraudulent digital replicas on the rise, due to the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (genAI); artists and consumers everywhere are being bamboozled by a tidal wave of swindling and deception. Advancing the interests of and ability for Americans everywhere, including those in the creative industries, to assert their rights is not only essential, but a moral imperative if we are to protect the lifeblood of American ingenuity.”
Prem Akkaraju, CEO, Stability AI
"Stability AI is committed to preventing the misuse of AI and supports thoughtful regulation that fosters innovation. This amendment to the Lanham Act, which addresses harmful digital impersonations of artists, is an important measure to safeguard artists."