Feb. 13, 2026
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors in our favorite movies and TV shows, has added its voice to the opposition against ByteDance’s Seedance 2.0 AI video tool.
“SAG-AFTRA stands with the studios in condemning the blatant infringement enabled by ByteDance’s new AI video model Seedance 2.0,” the union said in a statement released on its website. “The infringement includes the unauthorized use of our members’ voices and likenesses. This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood. Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent. Responsible AI development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here.”
This comes on the heels of last night’s statement from the head of The Motion Picture Association (MPA), which also cited Seedance 2.0’s disregard of copyright law. The only issue with these two statements is that they are both directed at a company, ByteDance, that is based in China, which presents a far trickier legal landscape when it comes to prosecuting copyright violations.
The timing of SAG-AFTRA’s statement on Seedance 2.0’s AI video capabilities is also notable, as it comes just as the union begins negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group representing major film and TV studios in the U.S. The new agreement, which will dictate the rules governing how performers and their likenesses are handled, will also focus on the issue of AI being used in entertainment.
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