Newsletters
Kenjiro Tsuda, a well-known voice actor in Japan's anime industry, has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that videos on the platform feature an artificial intelligence replica of his voice, with a court decision expected on Wednesday.
The case, brought by Tsuda, known for lead roles in franchises such as "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!", is reportedly the first in Japan aimed at protecting a performer's voice from AI replication.
AI voice cloning has become a growing worry for performers globally, and the issue has shaken Japan's animation industry, where voice actors often draw fan devotion comparable to the characters they play.
Tsuda, 55, wants TikTok to take down a series of videos narrated in a voice he says is unmistakably his own. TikTok, however, argues in court filings reviewed by AFP that the voice is simply generic and that any resemblance to Tsuda is subjective.
Yuko Sasaki, head of the Japan Actors Union and a voice actor herself, said that a performer's voice reflects years of training and should be recognized as a fundamental right belonging to the individual.
The videos in question were posted by an anonymous account using an image resembling a "Jujutsu Kaisen" character voiced by Tsuda, combining visuals with AI-generated narration on topics like urban legends and conspiracy theories.
According to the lawsuit, the account had grown to more than 200,000 subscribers and generated substantial monthly revenue, largely, Tsuda's lawyers argue, because of the appeal of his voice rather than the content itself.
His legal team contends this violates his publicity rights, the legal ability to control and profit from one's own identity. Although the account is no longer active, the Tokyo District Court will determine whether TikTok bears responsibility for the posts.
Separately, Sasaki and other voice actors have launched a campaign called "No More," opposing unauthorized use of generative AI to mimic performers. Actor Bin Shimada warned that a ruling favoring TikTok could open the door to widespread AI voice cloning on social media, potentially discouraging younger actors in the industry.
The issue extends beyond Japan. The International Federation of Actors has said that copyright and data protection laws in many countries have not kept pace with the risks AI poses to performers, and OpenAI faced backlash in 2024 after releasing a synthetic voice resembling actress Scarlett Johansson's without her involvement.
Japan currently has no law explicitly protecting an individual's voice, though the Ministry of Justice issued non-binding guidelines last month affirming that voice can fall under existing publicity and likeness protections.
Waseda University intellectual property professor Tatsuhiro Ueno said it's unlikely Tsuda's publicity rights claim will be flatly rejected, and noted that given Tsuda's international recognition through his "Jujutsu Kaisen" role, the verdict is likely to attract significant global attention.
Veteran actor Michihiro Ikemizu, 83, voiced support for Tsuda while expressing confidence that AI, no matter how advanced, cannot replicate the adaptability and emotional presence human actors bring to a role.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
