SAG-AFTRA video game performers went on strike after being denied protections against AI
SAG-AFTRA video game performers have gone on strike after failed negotiations with major gaming companies over AI protections in their new contracts, demanding clear language to safeguard performers' rights regarding digital replicas, consent, compensation, and generative AI usage.
The members of the SAG-AFTRA working on video games went into strike starting Friday, July 26, 2024, after negotiators for the Interactive Media Agreement—the collective contract for SAG-AFTRA members working for video games productions—failed to reach an agreement with employers, including Activision Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc, concerning the proposed protections for video game performers against AI abuse. According to SAG-AFTRA, these employers refuse to "plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language."
The strike halts negotiations spanning the last 18 months, starting in October 2022. Both parties have reached significant agreements on topics that are important for video game in and off-camera performers, however, employers are refusing to sign on to the new proposed contracts, the Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement. These documents replace the contract which expired in November 2022, and include protections for SAG-AFTRA members, such as obtaining performers' informed consent before attempting to create digital replicas of their total or partial likeness, treating time spent on the replica's creation as work time, and compensating performers appropriately.
The new Interactive Media Agreement documents also consider broader uses of generative AI. The Interactive Media Agreement establishes that employers must notify the Union before using generative AI to replace human performers. In addition, employers must obtain informed consent, and pay for material generated with AI by prompting the system with the performer's name or identifying characteristics. Several SAG-AFTRA representatives have expressed their public support of the strike, including SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, who stated, "We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate."
