- Anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda is suing TikTok for allegedly using an AI copy of his voice in videos on the platform, claiming that the voice was unique to him.
- The lawsuit in Japan is the first of its kind to address the issue of AI copying a person’s voice, with Tsuda’s attorneys arguing that the videos violated his publicity rights.
- Concerns over AI mimicry are growing among performers globally, with the Tokyo District Court set to decide whether TikTok should have removed the videos featuring the AI copy of Tsuda’s voice.
A courtroom fight in Japan could help decide whether a performer’s voice counts as something the law can protect in the age of artificial intelligence.
Anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda, whose credits include Jujutsu Kaisen and Yu-Gi-Oh!, has filed suit against TikTok, alleging that videos on the platform used an AI copy of his “lustrous” baritone voice.
Here’s what to know
As Malay Mail reported, citing AFP, the case appears to be the first in Japan to take on an AI copy of a person’s voice.
The lawsuit asks the court to find TikTok liable for not removing videos that, he argues, were narrated in a voice no one else could have.
TikTok’s position, according to AFP-cited court records, was that the audio was merely a “generic male voice” and that any similarity listeners heard was subjective.
The complaint centers on an anonymous account whose profile picture looked like a Jujutsu Kaisen character Tsuda voices. AFP reported that the videos paired images with narration that seemed to be made by AI, on topics like conspiracy theories, the occult, and urban legends.
The complaint said the account grew to over 200,000 subscribers and could have been earning more than ¥500,000 a month.
Tsuda’s attorneys said the page “only gained popularity because its dubious, sordid content was narrated by the attractive voice of a popular actor.”
More background
AFP said anxiety over AI mimicry was rising among performers globally and that concern had spread through Japan’s animation business, where voice actors can draw admiration on par with the characters they portray.
In comments to AFP, Japan Actors Union executive director Yuko Sasaki said an actor’s voice “is the result of years of rigorous training and apprenticeship.”
“It’s something we spend lots of time and money perfecting,” she said. “We support Tsuda wholeheartedly.”
AI tools like voice-cloning run in data centers, which ties them directly to the power grid. Those facilities use large amounts of electricity and water, and the added demand can strain local power supplies and raise energy bills for nearby households. On the other hand, AI can help utilities balance wind and solar power and find ways to cut wasted energy.
What’s being done?
AFP reported that the Tokyo District Court is set to decide whether TikTok should have taken the videos down.
Tsuda’s lawyers argued that the videos violated his publicity rights, which give a person the power to control how their identity is used and to earn money from it.
Even though the account can no longer be seen on TikTok, Sasaki said the court should “acknowledge that ownership of a voice is a fundamental right.”
Longtime voice actor Michihiro Ikemizu, 83, also supported the actor but argued that even the most advanced AI will never top a human performer.
“You need to constantly feel and adapt while performing your role. That’s something AI can never do,” Ikemizu told AFP. “That’s our only weapon.”
Where can I learn more?
Fights over who controls a performer’s voice, likeness, and creative work are playing out worldwide.
• Morgan Freeman condemned AI-generated voices copying him as theft of a performer’s identity.
• Taylor Swift moved to trademark her voice and likeness against growing AI misuse.
• In the U.S., creators sued tech companies as AI copyright complaints escalate across the industry.
• Creative professionals were warned they could lose control of AI-trained work without fast action.
• In Hollywood, backlash grew after an “AI actress” faced scrutiny over replacing human performers.
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