California AB 2602 (vague AI voice/likeness contract clauses unenforceable)
California AB 2602 (2024) — Contracts Authorizing Digital Replicas of Voice or Likeness
California · Cal. Civ. Code 1745.5 (AB 2602, Stats. 2024)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- January 1, 2025
- Applies to
- Parties (studios, employers, producers) who seek to enforce contract provisions authorizing digital replicas.
- Enforced by
- California courts (raised as a defense in private contract disputes).
This law protects performers and others from signing away the rights to an AI-generated digital replica of their voice or likeness without understanding what they are agreeing to. If a contract lets someone create or use a digital replica of you for a new performance, that clause cannot be enforced when it fails to reasonably describe how the replica will be used and you did not have a lawyer or union representing you when you signed.
Who is protected: Individuals (including performers and recording artists) whose voice or visual likeness could be digitally replicated under a services contract.
Legal detail
Cal. Civ. Code 1745.5 renders unenforceable a contract provision permitting creation or use of a digital replica of an individual's voice or visual likeness for a new performance if it lacks a reasonably specific description of intended uses and the individual was neither represented by legal counsel nor by a labor union.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | September 17, 2024 |
| Citation | Cal. Civ. Code 1745.5 (AB 2602, Stats. 2024) |
| Penalties | No fine or administrative penalty; the noncompliant contract provision is unenforceable. |
| Topics | deepfakes · AI hiring and employment |
| Bill text | AB-2602 Contracts against public policy: personal or professional services: digital replicas |
More AI rules in California
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- California AB 489 (AI healthcare chatbot misrepresentation ban) · In effect
- X.AI v. Bonta (AB 2013 training-data disclosure) · Blocked / in litigation
- CA SB 1168 — data center grid cost allocation · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 1119 Adam's Law, companion chatbots (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 867 AI chatbot toy moratorium (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
Related deepfakes rules elsewhere
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- Doe v. X.AI (Grok NCII deepfakes class action) · Blocked / in litigation
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- Arizona HB 2678 — AI-generated CSAM criminalized · In effect
- MN HF 1606 AI Nudification Ban (2026) · In effect
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