British singer FKA Twigs has made a bold move in the fight for artificial intelligence regulation, revealing that she has created her own deepfake version of herself to engage with fans online while focusing on her art.
In a written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Twigs shared that she developed the deepfake version of herself over the past year and trained to speak in her voice in multiple languages, including French, Korean, and Japanese.
Twigs emphasized the importance of regulation, citing the potential risks of digital duplicates, including songs circulating online that she did not create, making her feel “vulnerable.” She stressed that without legislation to protect artists, fans would no longer be able to trust the authenticity of their work.
British singer FKA Twigs (Credits: Pitchfork)
The singer, whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, expressed surprise that she had to explain the need for protection, saying it feels “painfully obvious” that artists’ spirits, art, and brands belong to them and should not be exploited without consent.
In her written testimony, Twigs highlighted the value of emerging technologies like deepfakes when controlled by the artist but warned against the dangers of third-party exploitation without consent. She urged legislative control to protect artists and their identities from false exploitation.
FKA Twigs (Credits: BBC)
Twigs’ testimony was part of the “Protecting Americans from Unauthorized Digital Replicas” hearing, which explored the potential impacts of online digital duplicates. Her advocacy for regulation and control highlights the importance of protecting artists’ rights in the digital age.
