Scarlett Johansson Is Taking Legal Action Against AI App’s Unauthorized Use of Her Image in Ad
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images Reading Time: 2 minutes
Scarlett Johansson has recently taken legal action against an artificial intelligence app that used her name and image in an online advertisement without her permission. The incident has made people more aware of the increasing problem of celebrities’ pictures and identities being used without their permission through technology.
Scarlett Johansson Takes Legal Action Against AI App
In a brief 22-second ad posted on the social media platform X (Twitter), the AI app, known as Lisa AI: 90s Yearbook & Avatar, used Johansson’s likeness, unauthorized. It’s important to note that Johansson has no affiliation with this app and was not endorsing it in any way.
Her attorney, Kevin Yorn, intervened legally to address the issue. The ad, which appeared on October 28, has since been removed from the internet.
Yorn emphasized the seriousness with which they approach such incidents, stating that they would pursue all available legal remedies. This reflects the commitment of many public figures to protect their image and identity in the digital age.
The contentious advertisement begins with a vintage clip of Johansson behind the scenes of her movie Black Widow. The actress is seen saying, “What’s up guys? It’s Scarlett and I want you to come with me…” However, the advertisement takes a deceptive turn when a graphic conceals her mouth, and the screen transitions into AI-generated images resembling Johansson.
A fabricated voice imitating Johansson continues, promoting the AI app, saying, “It’s not limited to avatars only. You can also create images with texts and even your AI videos.” The fine print beneath the ad attempts to distance the AI app, stating, “Images produced by Lisa AI. It has nothing to do with this person.”
It’s important to understand that various states have strict laws in place to protect the right to privacy, with California, where Johansson resides, providing legal recourse for unauthorized use of a person’s “name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness” for advertising or promotional purposes. These laws aim to safeguard the identity and reputation of individuals, particularly public figures.
Scarlett Johansson Previously Spoke About Deep Fakes
Johansson’s recent legal action against an AI app is certainly not her first encounter with the misuse of her image. In 2018, the actress voiced her concerns to the Washington Post regarding her image being used in computer-generated “deepfakes.”
“Nothing can stop someone from cutting and pasting my image or anyone else’s onto a different body. Making it look as eerily realistic as desired.”
These deepfakes involved superimposing women’s faces, including hers, onto explicit and non-consensual content. Her comments also shed light on the challenges of policing the internet, which often operates in a lawless realm, outside the reach of regulations and policies, even in the United States.
