Japanese Voice Actor Kenjiro Tsuda Sues TikTok Over AI Voice Cloning
Japanese voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his roles in popular anime like 'Jujutsu Kaisen' and 'Chainsaw Man,' has filed a lawsuit against TikTok. Tsuda alleges that TikTok hosts videos featuring an AI-generated voice that imitates his distinctive 'deep' and 'lustrous' baritone. This legal action is believed to be the first in Japan to defend an individual's vocal identity against AI-generated copies. Tsuda is demanding the removal of these videos, which combine images with AI-generated speech about urban legends and conspiracy theories. TikTok, however, argues that the voice is a 'generic male voice' and its similarity to Tsuda's is subjective. The platform also claims it merely provides a forum for user-generated content within the scope of free speech. The Tokyo District Court is set to rule on whether TikTok is responsible for deleting these posts.
