Arkansas lawmakers are moving forward with House Bill 1071. This bill includes protections against AI-generated media.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas House Bill 1071, which aims to expand the Frank Broyles Publicity Rights Protection Act of 2016, has passed the Arkansas House of Representatives with overwhelming support.
The bill, introduced by Republican State Representative Scott Richardson, seeks to include protections against artificial intelligence-generated media.
The original Frank Broyles Publicity Rights Protection Act, named after former University of Arkansas football coach Frank Broyles, was created to strengthen publicity rights for student athletes.
It protects an individual’s rights to control the commercial use of their name, signature and likeness.
Richardson explained the need for this update.
“Having the ability to take an image or series of images and sounds and generate a life-like portrayal of an individual wasn’t something that we were readily able to do in 2016. Now, with emerging trends, it’s fairly easy to accomplish that,” Richardson said.
The bill aims to provide protections for individuals’ personal property, including their likeness and voice, in any form.
While Richardson hasn’t received specific examples of AI misuse, he believes it’s important to be proactive.
“Whether they be an Arkansas Razorback football player, coach, or an individual that happens to be in music or any other industry, we want to make sure that the value that they’ve built around their brand, of their name and their likeness remains theirs, and that they can do with as they wish,” Richardson stated.
The bill passed the House on Monday, January 27, 2025 and now moves forward in the legislative process to the senate.