Umm Kulthum's Family Threatens Legal Action Over AI-Generated Deepfake Videos
Umm Kulthum's family has threatened legal action after AI-generated deepfake videos circulated online showing the late Egyptian singer performing songs by rapper Weggz. The family stated the videos violate intellectual property rights and distort the iconic artist's legacy without permission.
What happened
AI-generated deepfake videos circulated on social media platforms showing the deceased Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum performing songs by rapper Weggz, using synthetic recreations of her voice and image.
Umm Kulthum's family, represented by her granddaughter Jihan Al-Dosouky, stated they rejected the use of AI technology to recreate her voice or image without prior permission from the heirs.
Reported impact
The family stated the videos distort Umm Kulthum's artistic legacy, particularly given her unique singing style that established her prominence for decades.
The family characterized the videos as an attempt to obscure her unique vocal identity and described the content as offensive to the large audience that continues to revere Umm Kulthum decades after her death.
Index analysis
The family stated that using AI to recreate the voices of deceased artists has raised global discussions about ethics and laws related to intellectual property rights.
A similar incident occurred in 2023 when composer Amro Mustafa produced a song using AI-generated Umm Kulthum vocals, prompting the family and producer Mohsen Gaber to threaten legal action before Mustafa withdrew and pledged not to use her voice.
Governance controls
The family issued a formal statement threatening legal action against any party using AI technology to produce videos mimicking Umm Kulthum's voice or depicting her performing contemporary songs without permission.
The family stated they would not compromise in protecting the legacy of the famous artist and would resort to courts to prevent any attempts to falsify her artistic image.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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