Cate Blanchett unveils AI consent tool at European Parliament
RSL Media’s Human Consent Registry was presented to lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Actor and producer Cate Blanchett has launched the Human Consent Registry, a free online tool that allows individuals to specify how AI systems may use their identity. Presented at the European Parliament, the registry enables users to permit or prohibit the use of their name, image, voice, likeness and movements by AI systems, either unconditionally or subject to specific terms.
The platform is available to individuals as well as representatives, such as agents and managers. Its developers say it will eventually expand to cover works of art, fictional characters and brands. It was developed by RSL Media, a nonprofit co-founded by Blanchett that focuses on building consent tools related to AI use, which launched in May to wide support from figures across the entertainment industry.
Blanchett has been a prominent advocate for stronger safeguards against unauthorised AI use. In March 2025, she joined more than 400 artists in signing an open letter urging the US administration to maintain copyright protections and reject proposals that would allow AI developers to train models on copyrighted works without permission or compensation.
The launch comes amid growing concern among artists over the unauthorised use of creative works and personal likenesses for AI training. Singer SZA recently said more than 200 of her songs had been used to train AI systems, while actor Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his image, voice and a well-known catchphrase.
The Human Consent Registry positions itself as a scalable and accessible alternative to such individual legal measures, offering a standardised mechanism that does not require significant resources to deploy. The tool is free to use and designed to be available to anyone, not only those with the means to pursue trademark or copyright protections independently.
The registry was launched during an event at the European Parliament hosted by Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell of the European People’s Party. Director Steven Soderbergh also attended the event in Brussels.
Why does it matter?
The Human Consent Registry highlights a growing gap between existing intellectual property laws and the capabilities of generative AI. While copyright and trademark protections offer some legal remedies, they often do not provide individuals with a simple way to express or enforce consent over the use of their identity, voice or likeness by AI systems.
The initiative also reflects a broader shift towards consent-based AI governance. By launching the registry at the European Parliament, its creators are seeking to influence ongoing debates on AI regulation, copyright and personality rights, while promoting practical mechanisms that could complement future legal frameworks for the responsible use of AI-generated content.
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