SAG-AFTRA actors under the Interactive Media Agreement (the agreement all video game voice actors are under) have been on strike since July 2024, and continue to fight major game companies like EA and PlayStation over protections for its members against their work being abused by generative AI and AI technology.
That’s been the continued sticking point this whole time, and while you might think they should be close to a deal by now, the truth remains that they are still leagues apart from reaching a deal.
SAG-AFTRA clearly stated as such in its latest update on the strike on Wednesday, saying “The bargaining group would have you believe that we are close to reaching a deal. This is not the case.”
In fact, SAG-AFTRA reveals that game companies are trying to bargain for the ability to use AI to use a performers voice, from past or present work, “without any of the protections being bargained at all. You could be told nothing about your replica being used, offered nothing in the way of payment, and you could do nothing about it.”
“They want to be able to make your replica continue to work, as you, during a future strike, whether you like it or not. And once you’ve given your specific consent for how your replica can be used, they refuse to tell you what they actually did with it.”
As doom and gloom as that sounds, the bit of hope comes from the fact that more and more studios are signing SAG-AFTRA’s interim agreement, which does include the protections that SAG-AFTRA has been trying to bargain into the finalized deal for all of its members under the IMA.
“More than 160 games have no signed on to our interim and independent agreements – and the total earnings of these projects have exceeded that of non-struck games,” SAG-AFTRA reports.
Hopefully this strike will end the way it should, with a win for SAG-AFTRA and proper protections against generative AI tools abusing the work of voice actors. Whatever you think of the potential of generative AI, good or bad, there should be no argument over the fact that a company should not be able to take and use your own voice in whatever way it wants, without telling you.
“With their previously signed projects dragging their way through the production pipeline, employers are feeling the squeeze from the strike, as SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games continue to stand together and refuse to work without adequate protections,” SAG-AFTRA writes.
“This is causing employers to seek other performers they can exploit to fill those roles, including those who don’t typically perform in games. If you’re approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences.
Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse. And ‘A.I. misuse’ is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you – without consent or compensation.”
Source – [SAG-AFTRA]
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