AI clones anime voice? Kenjiro Tsuda takes TikTok to court!
It almost sounds like the plot of a sci-fi anime, but it’s real: renowned voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda is taking legal action against TikTok. The allegation: his distinctive voice was allegedly copied using artificial intelligence and used without permission in numerous online videos. But what’s really behind the case?
Anime-Star Tsuda Takes Action Against AI Use
Tsuda is a major figure in the anime world, known for iconic roles such as Seto Kaiba in Yu-Gi-Oh! and Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen. His deep, instantly recognizable voice is his trademark and that’s exactly what makes this case so significant.
According to reports, at least 188 TikTok videos are said to contain an AI-generated voice that closely resembles his. The content was spread by unknown accounts and reportedly achieved significant reach. There are also allegations that it was used for monetization.
In his lawsuit, Tsuda is invoking his “publicity rights.” In Japan, these rights protect the commercial use of a person’s voice and identity. From the voice actor’s perspective, those rights were violated because his voice was allegedly cloned and used commercially without consent.
TikTok Denies The Allegations
TikTok, however, rejects the claims. The platform argues that the AI voice in question is merely a generic male voice and was not specifically intended to imitate Tsuda. It also states that in some cases it was disclosed that AI technology had been used.
The case is already sparking widespread debate in Japan’s voice acting and content creation industries. Experts warn that uncontrolled use of AI-generated voices could fundamentally reshape entire professions in the long run. No ruling has been issued yet but one thing is clear: the dispute over AI-generated voices has reached a new level of escalation with this case.
What do you think about it? In Germany as well, voice actors have repeatedly expressed concerns that AI could eventually replace their work. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.