ELVIS Act
Tennessee Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act
Tennessee · Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 47-25-1101 to -1108 (ELVIS Act, 2024)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2024
- Applies to
- Anyone making unauthorized commercial or replicative use of a person's voice/likeness, including AI tool distributors
- Enforced by
- Courts (civil actions); district attorneys (criminal)
The first US law protecting voices from AI cloning: Tennessee added 'voice' to its right-of-publicity law, so using AI to mimic someone's voice or likeness without permission is both a civil violation and a crime. It also allows lawsuits against those who distribute tools whose primary purpose is producing unauthorized voice or likeness replicas.
Who is protected: All individuals (notably musicians and performers) whose voice, image, or likeness is used
Legal detail
Amends the Tennessee Personal Rights Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-25-1101 et seq.) to cover voice (actual or simulated), adds liability for distributing technologies whose primary purpose is unauthorized replication, effective July 1, 2024.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | March 21, 2024 |
| Citation | Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 47-25-1101 to -1108 (ELVIS Act, 2024) |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Civil damages and injunctive relief; Class A misdemeanor criminal liability |
| Topics | deepfakes · AI-generated images · copyright and training data · consumer protection |
| Agency page | Tennessee Governor's Office: ELVIS Act announcement |
More AI rules in Tennessee
- Tennessee Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act · In effect
- TN SB 151 (2017 AV Act) · In effect
- TN drone trespass / FFUSA · In effect
- Tennessee HB 2163 (AI-generated child abuse images are illegal 'material') · In effect
- Tennessee Information Protection Act (opt out of automated profiling decisions) · In effect
- Tennessee SB 837 (AI is not a 'person' under TN law) · 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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