French voice actors sue AI firms for unauthorized voice cloning
Eight French voice actors, including those who dub international actors such as Angelina Jolie and Harrison Ford, have sent cease-and-desist letters to two American AI companies, VoiceDub and Fish Audio, demanding removal of voice clones created without their consent. The actors are demanding 20,000 euros in damages each and seeking to raise awareness with government authorities about unauthorized voice use in AI systems.
What happened
On 30 January 2026, eight French voice actors sent cease-and-desist letters to VoiceDub and Fish Audio, two American AI companies, demanding removal of voice clones created without their consent.
The actors' voices appear in the platforms' text-to-speech catalogues alongside those of other public figures including Emmanuel Macron and Kylian Mbappé, according to documents reviewed by the AFP.
Voice actors including Françoise Cadol, who dubs Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock, and Richard Darbois, the French voice of Richard Gere and Patrick Swayze, are among the plaintiffs demanding the clones be removed within eight days.
Reported impact
The voice actors stated that their voices were used "without our authorization" and that they were being "annihilated" and "pirated."
According to the actors, opportunities to work in dubbing are diminishing as some editors turn to AI instead of hiring human voice actors.
Index analysis
In September 2025, Françoise Cadol had previously obtained removal of an AI-generated clone of her voice from remasterized versions of Tomb Raider IV, V and VI published by Aspire Media.
The collective action is described as unprecedented in France and reflects broader concerns among voice actors about threats to their profession from AI technology.
Governance controls
The actors seek to alert government authorities to develop practical solutions to defend voice actors against unauthorized use of their voices.
The initiative "Touche Pas à ma VF" (Hands Off My French Dubbing) was created by professionals in the field to promote the issue.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.