TN ELVIS Act
Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024 (ELVIS Act)
Protects individuals from unauthorized AI-generated use of their name, photograph, voice, or likeness. Explicitly covers AI-generated voice simulations. Criminal and civil penalties including treble damages for knowing violations.
Jurisdiction
Tennessee
US-TN
Enacted
Mar 21, 2024
Effective
Jul 1, 2024
Enforcement
Courts (civil and criminal)
Signed March 21, 2024; effective July 1, 2024
Harms Addressed
Who Must Comply
This law applies to:
- • All individuals and entities
- • AI tool developers/distributors
Who bears obligations:
Exemptions
News/Public Affairs/Sports
high confidenceNews, public affairs, sports broadcast use (First Amendment)
Conditions:
- • News/public affairs/sports context
- • First Amendment protected
Commentary and Criticism
high confidenceCommentary and criticism (First Amendment)
Conditions:
- • Commentary/criticism purpose
- • First Amendment protected
Innocent Ad Media
high confidenceAdvertising media owners/employees not liable unless they knew or should have known of unauthorized use
Conditions:
- • No knowledge of unauthorized use
- • Media owner/employee
Safety Provisions
- • Prohibition on unauthorized commercial use of voice/likeness
- • Prohibition on publishing AI-generated content without authorization
- • Prohibition on distributing AI tools whose primary purpose is generating unauthorized likenesses
- • Protection extends to simulated voices (not just actual recordings)
- • Parent/guardian consent required for minors
Compliance Timeline
Jul 1, 2024
All provisions effective
Enforcement
Enforced by
Courts (civil and criminal)
Penalties
criminal liability
Civil: injunctive relief, actual damages + profits, treble damages for knowing violations. Criminal: Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months 29 days incarceration, $2,500 fine).
Private Right of Action
Individuals can sue directly without waiting for regulatory action. This significantly increases liability exposure.
Quick Facts
- Binding
- Yes
- Mental Health Focus
- No
- Child Safety Focus
- Yes
- Algorithmic Scope
- No
- Private Action
- Yes
Why It Matters
First explicit AI voice protection law. Private right of action with treble damages. Criminal penalties possible. Sets precedent for publicity rights in AI era.
Recent Developments
First state law explicitly protecting against AI voice cloning. Named after Elvis Presley (Tennessee connection). Music industry supported.
Cite This
APA
Tennessee. (2024). Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024 (ELVIS Act). Retrieved from https://nope.net/regs/us-tn-elvis
BibTeX
@misc{us_tn_elvis,
title = {Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024 (ELVIS Act)},
author = {Tennessee},
year = {2024},
url = {https://nope.net/regs/us-tn-elvis}
} Related Regulations
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