The latest

What we're watching. New AI products, new legislation, deals, court cases, platform changes — and the weird stuff happening on the internet.

Heads up: this section is tracked and summarized with AI, not written or verified by our team — it isn't ours and we don't publish it. Details can be inaccurate or out of date, so always check the original source before relying on anything here.

Sep 27, 2026 · Signal

Japanese anime actor fights TikTok over AI voice cloning

Voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda is asking a Tokyo court to order TikTok to remove videos he says use an AI clone of his voice; TikTok argues the audio is a generic male voice and that it isn't responsible for user posts. A ruling is expected Sept 30, and it will be one of the first tests of Japan's new government guidance on voice rights.

AFP via France 24
Sep 25, 2026 · Signal

Equity calls for AI protections as avatar performer Tilly Norwood turns one

A year after the launch of AI 'actress' Tilly Norwood, UK union Equity says talks with producers' body Pact on the first automatic AI protections for film and TV performers are at an advanced stage. It is also urging the government to create personality rights over voice and likeness for everyone.

Equity (UK)
Sep 25, 2026 · Signal

Delhi High Court directs police to protect woman alleging deepfake image with PM Modi; Meta to remove content

The Delhi High Court ordered Meta to take down an allegedly AI-altered explicit image of a woman shown with the Prime Minister within 24 hours and granted her police protection. The case returns to court on Oct 14.

LiveLaw
Sep 25, 2026 · Signal

Sony and UMG are suing Suno again

Sony and Universal filed a new lawsuit claiming Suno's v6 music model still infringes because it was trained on outputs of earlier models that were built on unlicensed recordings, which they call 'model laundering.' Suno says v6 was trained on partner-licensed content and community creations.

The Verge
Sep 24, 2026 · Signal

FTC seeks public comment on whether to update its impersonation rule to address platforms' role in scams

The FTC opened an advance notice asking whether social media and search platforms should have to vet advertisers and remove impersonation scam ads that their ad-optimization tools help deliver. Consumers reported nearly $3.5 billion in impersonation losses in 2025; comments are due 60 days after Federal Register publication.

Federal Trade Commission
Sep 24, 2026 · Signal

YouTube adds voice to likeness detection as platform expands AI impersonation protections

At Made on YouTube, the company said its likeness-detection tool, which flags videos that appear to use a creator's face, will add speaking-voice detection later this year and come to the mobile app. YouTube did not give exact rollout dates.

Biometric Update
Sep 22, 2026 · Signal

Amazon and Ring seek dismissal of Familiar Faces biometric privacy lawsuit

Amazon and Ring asked a Seattle federal court to dismiss a class action over Ring's 'Familiar Faces' facial recognition feature, arguing plaintiffs haven't shown their biometric data was actually collected. Plaintiffs' response is due Oct 30.

Biometric Update
Sep 22, 2026 · Signal

Judge dismisses suit claiming James Cameron misappropriated likeness of actress for 'Avatar'

A federal judge dismissed actress Q'orianka Kilcher's false-endorsement claims alleging her likeness was used for the Neytiri character, applying the Rogers test for expressive works. She may amend her complaint.

ABA Journal
Sep 22, 2026 · Signal

Zelda Williams slams deepfakers: 'Have some shame.'

Zelda Williams criticized people sharing an AI video that shows her late father, Robin Williams, pushing conspiracy theories. It is the latest of several objections the family has made to AI fakes of the actor.

The Verge
Sep 22, 2026 · Signal

Meta defeats California voiceprint suit as judge finds data use authorized

A judge ruled that a user had agreed to Meta's use of his voice recordings through its terms and privacy disclosures, ending a California case over alleged voiceprints. A separate Illinois BIPA case over voice data is still moving forward.

Biometric Update
Sep 22, 2026 · Signal

Governor Moore outlines AI framework, including a statutory right of publicity

Maryland's governor proposed creating a statutory right of publicity so people own their likeness from the outset instead of having to prove harm after a clone appears. Legislation is expected in the 2027 session alongside other AI proposals.

Office of Governor Wes Moore (Maryland)
Sep 21, 2026 · Signal

AI music scammers hijack human creators' profiles

Following a 404 Media test that put an AI-generated song on a real band's streaming profiles through a distributor, this analysis explains why fake tracks keep appearing under real artists' names and why verification is hard. It notes Spotify says it is building artist verification for new releases.

Plagiarism Today
Sep 21, 2026 · Signal

Vikki Goodwin files police complaint on Dan Patrick ads

Texas Lt. Governor candidate Vikki Goodwin filed a police complaint alleging AI videos posted by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's campaign violate Texas's 2019 election deepfake law. Patrick's campaign says the videos were obvious parody and posted outside the 30-day window; they have since been removed.

The Texas Tribune
Sep 21, 2026 · Signal

Montana deepfake law likely unconstitutional, judge rules

A federal judge blocked Montana from enforcing its election deepfake law against a former lawmaker and his PAC, finding it likely discriminates by viewpoint because it targets AI content that harms candidates but not content that flatters them. The injunction covers only the plaintiffs, so the law still applies to everyone else.

MediaPost