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HD 3987

An Act preventing an individual’s image and voice from exploitation

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tackey Chan and 5 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill protecting individuals' images and voices from unauthorized commercial use and deceptive AI-generated exploitation through expanded consent and rights of publicity.

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Bill Summary · HD 3987

Legislative bill overview

HD 3987 would create legal protections preventing the unauthorized use of an individual's image and voice for commercial purposes or deceptive applications. The bill aims to establish rights of publicity and protect against deepfakes and other forms of digital exploitation without consent.

Why is this important

As synthetic media technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, people face growing risks of having their likenesses used in fraudulent schemes, non-consensual intimate content, or misleading advertisements. This bill addresses a real gap in Massachusetts law by establishing clear legal recourse for victims of image and voice exploitation, which is particularly relevant given recent advances in AI-generated content.

Potential points of contention

  • Free speech concerns: Critics may argue that broad restrictions on image/voice use could conflict with First Amendment protections for satire, parody, news reporting, and artistic expression
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's scope depends heavily on how "exploitation" and "consent" are defined—unclear language could either provide insufficient protection or create compliance problems for legitimate uses like news, entertainment, and educational content
  • Enforcement and remedies: Questions remain about whether the bill includes adequate civil or criminal penalties, how individuals prove unauthorized use, and whether damages are sufficient to deter violations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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