Lahore (Lord Media): The Punjab government has drafted the Punjab Performers Digital Identity and AI Protection Act 2026 to safeguard the digital identities of artists. Under this proposed law, artists’ voices, faces, and other digital identities will be legally recognized as protected property.
According to the law, unauthorized use of an artist’s voice or face through artificial intelligence will be prohibited. Explicit, written, and specific consent from the artist will be required prior to using AI performances, voice cloning, or digital replicas.
It will be mandatory to include a clear disclaimer of AI usage in all AI-generated content. Strict penalties, including three years imprisonment and fines in the millions of rupees, are proposed for the use of voice cloning, deepfake technology, and AI for fake endorsements or political messages.
The bill proposes establishing a new regulatory system and digital rights registry to protect artists’ rights. Separate compensation and formal agreements will be mandatory for any AI performance.
The proposed law mandates special legal protection and parental consent for artists under 18, while the digital identity of deceased artists will be protected for 25 years.
