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Video game performers to strike in dispute over artificial intelligence
SAG AFTRA and WGA members and supporters picket outside of Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank.
(
Brian Feinzimer
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Performers who work for Activision, Disney, Warner Bros. and other major video game companies will walk off the job Friday after midnight.
After 18 months of negotiating, the union representing video game performers, SAG-AFTRA, said the companies have not moved fair enough on artificial intelligence protections.
Why it matters: SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement that the video game performers "demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies."
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Last year, actors with SAG-AFTRA went on strike for 118 days.
The reaction: Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, said in a statement that the companies are disappointed in the move, and that the union and producers have made agreements on 24 out of 25 proposals.
“Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers working under the IMA [Interactive Media Agreement]," she said.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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