Hollywood figures lead campaign backed by more than 700 creatives against unauthorised AI use

A-listers including Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett, have joined a campaign opposing AI use of copyrighted work

More than 700 artists, writers and creators, including Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, have thrown their support behind a new campaign opposing the use of copyrighted creative work by artificial intelligence companies without permission.

The initiative comes as lawmakers in the United States and Europe consider new regulations governing how AI systems are trained. The campaign argues that current practices by some technology companies amount to exploitation rather than innovation, stating: “Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”

According to the statement, the issue extends beyond individual creators and threatens the wider US creative economy, which spans film, television, music, publishing and digital media. The sector, the campaign notes, “supports millions of jobs, fuels economic growth and projects cultural power globally,” but is increasingly at risk as AI developers scrape creative material without authorisation, compensation or transparency.

“America’s creative community is the envy of the world,” the statement reads. “But rather than respect and protect this valuable asset, some of the biggest tech companies – many backed by private equity and other funders — are using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without regard for copyright law.”

The campaign urges technology companies to pursue licensing agreements and partnerships instead of unauthorised data collection. “A better way exists,” the statement says, adding that “it is possible to have it all. We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected.”

Johansson has previously spoken out against AI misuse, including taking legal action against an app that used her name and likeness without consent and criticising the use of a voice similar to hers in an AI chatbot. Blanchett has also expressed caution about emerging technologies, saying in 2024, “I think it’s really important to discuss any new technology. I think we should be very cautious with it, because innovation without imagination is a very, very dangerous thing.”

Last year, Blanchett and Gordon-Levitt were among hundreds of industry figures who signed an open letter urging the US government to maintain strong copyright protections amid rapid AI development.