Hasbro is facing controversy after asking its Peppa Pig child actors to sign the rights to their voices away to AI.
This is not the first time actors—specifically children—are being asked to do this. Because shows want to keep the same sound as long as they run, and children’s voices change as they age, studios are attempting to combat this with AI.
Over 1,000 people have signed an open letter condemning these clauses for child actors. The letter was created by the Agents of Young Performers Association (AYPA), and defends the rights of children to own the rights to their voices.
Though the letter technically named no names, according to Deadline, they were referring to Peppa Pig.
“Any agreement involving a child’s voice should be fully exempt from all AI usage. No child should have their future professional identity shaped by an AI model created before they were old enough to understand its consequences. Their voice should not become a permanent commercial asset before they have the legal and personal capacity to decide for themselves.”
These kinds of deals can have lifelong repercussions for child actors. They get no say in what their parents do with the rights to their voice, and once they reach adulthood, those consequences don’t just go away.
Issues when it comes to child actors’ rights and treatment have been in the public eye of late. After the lengthy Dan Schneider controversy, a whole world of mistreatment of Disney and Nickelodeon kids came to light. Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV was an exposé docu-series about abused child actors. I’m Glad My Mom Died was a memoir by Disney star Jennette McCurdy discussing her mother’s abusive control over her life and stardom.
While this is not quite as immediate a threat to children’s safety, it is one to their well-being and future careers. According to Deadline, Hasbro has acknowledged the letter’s existence.
“The protection of child performers is core to who Hasbro is, it’s part of our DNA. As industry standards around AI continue to evolve, we are committed to engaging with this issue in a responsible and transparent manner.”
There have been no confirmed updates to the contracts.