The International Federation of Actors (FIA) and its member unions around the world once again stand firmly with SAG-AFTRA and its members as they strike against interactive video game companies in the US. This strike aims to secure important protections for their voice, likeness and movements against AI abusive exploitation. After over a year and a half of negotiations, the union’s decision to strike is a tough but essential step, made necessary by the companies’ refusal to agree to terms that performers engaged in those productions crucially need to protect the future of their jobs, their earnings and their reputation.
FIA President Gabrielle Carteris states “The challenges faced by interactive video game performers in the US reflect the existential threat that unregulated AI poses to workers everywhere, and not just in our industry. The refusal of these companies to negotiate meaningful protections shows how determined they are to exploit AI to replace human workers, rather than to augment their creativity. This is not a future we can accept.”
FIA General Secretary Dominick Luquer adds “Video games are massive industry with a global reach. It is clear that these companies are trying to let AI take over, threatening the livelihoods and skills of talented individuals who deliver the most immersive and realistic experiences. We must protect human creativity and not let it be undermined by corporate greed”.
FIA urges all its members to express their solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and support the strike through any means legally possible. The 10 companies facing the strike are Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. As not all games produced by these companies are struck, all FIA affiliates are warmly encouraged to get in touch with SAG-AFTRA, in case of doubt, for further clarifications.
Visit the SAG-AFTRA website for more information and download the social media toolkit at sagaftra.org/videogamestrike
