JapanJapanese voice actors ban AI dubbing and dead actors' voices; Goku's voice calls AI clips 'unforgivable'

A Japanese actors' and voice actors' union issued guidelines requiring consent at every stage when generative AI is used to recreate a voice.

Yonhap, citing Kyodo News, reported that the Japan Actors Union announced its generative AI voice guidelines in Tokyo on Oct 15. They ban using a deceased performer's voice in new work except with permission from the family, and say AI should not replace voice actors in film and TV dubbing.

The same day Dexerto reported that Masako Nozawa, the longtime voice of Dragon Ball's Goku, called AI videos using her voice "unforgivable," saying, "It might even be a perfect copy. But it has no heart." The post passed 30,000 likes on X.