Scarlett Johansson calls for AI regulations after fake anti-Kanye West video of her goes viral

Scarlett Johansson is urging the U.S. government to pass legislation regulating artificial intelligence after an AI-generated video using her likeness went viral.

The unauthorized video, which has been widely shared on social media, features an AI-generated Johansson wearing a T-shirt with a Star of David and an extended middle finger above the word “Kanye. It also includes deepfake versions of other Jewish celebrities, including Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, and Adam Sandler, before ending with the message: “Enough is Enough. Join the Fight Against Antisemitism.”

The clip went viral as a response to Kanye West’s Super Bowl ad, which promoted the sale of a white T-shirt featuring a swastika—the only item listed for purchase on his Yeezy store via Shopify before it was taken down.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Johansson, 40, condemned the use of AI to manipulate public figures. “I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind,” she said. “But the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it.”

Johansson, who has been the target of deepfakes before, warned that AI poses a growing risk to society. “There is a 1,000-foot wave coming regarding AI, and several progressive countries—not including the United States—have responded responsibly. It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects its citizens.”

The actress concluded with a direct call to action: “I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity.”

Johansson has previously taken legal action over AI misuse, including a 2023 ad that used her likeness without permission and a 2024 controversy over ChatGPT’s voice assistant, Sky, which she claimed sounded eerily similar to her own.