Mexico is on the verge of adopting two landmark pieces of legislation that will establish pioneering protections for the use of performers’ voices and images, including in the context of artificial intelligence.
The first draft law aims to regulate audiovisual production at the federal level, while promoting national and local content. It places strong emphasis on accessibility, diversity, sustainability, freedom of expression and inclusion. Notably, Article 29 explicitly provides that the dubbing of foreign productions into any of the languages used in Mexico must be carried out by voice performers. This provision effectively excludes the use of AI-generated voices for dubbing purposes across all languages in the country.
The second legislative initiative introduces amendments to both the Federal Labour Code and the Intellectual Property framework. A new Article 305 bis in the Labour Code clarifies that any use of a performer’s voice and/or image requires prior written authorization and appropriate remuneration, to be expressly included in the employment contract. On the intellectual property side, Article 87 establishes an exclusive right for performers over the use of their voice and image – including that of the characters they portray – even when such use involves AI technologies, such as voice cloning or digital replicas. Furthermore, Article 121, concerning the rebuttable presumption of transfer of rights in audiovisual production, specifies that this presumption does not extend to voice or image cloning, for which prior written consent remains mandatory.
Both draft laws have been approved by the lower chamber – the first one unanimously – and the Senate and are awaiting publication.
Taken together, these texts represent a coherent and forward-looking effort to regulate and promote a human-centric approach to AI. They address the risks of job displacement linked to unchecked technological use, while safeguarding performers against the potentially harmful consequences of unauthorized exploitation of their voice and image, including reputational damage and loss of income.
These proposals are the result of extensive advocacy by approximately 130 organizations, including FIA’s affiliate ANDA. They have also benefited from the strong support of President Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel, and INDAUTOR President Karina Luján. Their commitment and leadership – despite pressure from both technology companies and industry stakeholders seeking broader concessions on AI us – set a remarkable precedent.
Mexico’s approach offers an inspiring model for countries worldwide seeking to balance AI innovation with fundamental principles of consent, fair remuneration, and respect for human creativity and authorship.
FIA welcomes these important developments and calls on Mexican lawmakers to adopt both pieces of legislation without amendment. It also urges policymakers globally to follow this example and to champion strong, human-centred standards in international norm-setting processes.
