Cate Blanchett and EU Parliament Member Launch Human Consent Registry for AI Identity Protection

The RSL Media Human Consent Registry, a groundbreaking initiative co-founded by actor and producer Cate Blanchett and supported by EU Parliament Member Eva Maydell, officially launched to address the critical issue of identity protection in the age of artificial intelligence. This free public utility provides individuals with a practical and scalable mechanism to manage how their personal identity attributes, including name, image, likeness, voice, and movement, are utilized by AI systems. The launch event, held at the European Parliament, underscored the growing need for robust consent frameworks as AI technologies become increasingly pervasive. The registry operates on a simple, traffic-light system, allowing users to specify their preferences: allowed, allowed with terms, or prohibited. This clear and actionable approach aims to provide AI developers and users with a universal standard for understanding and respecting individual consent. The initiative is a direct response to concerns about the unauthorized use of personal data and creative works by AI, a topic that has gained significant attention from artists and policymakers alike. Cate Blanchett, a staunch advocate for protecting creative rights in the AI era, emphasized that "Your identity is your IP in the age of AI, and every person deserves the right to decide how AI can or cannot use it." She highlighted that the registry empowers individuals, giving them a voice and a means to take action on AI permissions, thereby helping to preserve trust within the AI ecosystem. The registry is designed to support both individuals acting on their own behalf and those represented by agents or other third parties, offering direct registration or approved pathways for represented individuals. Eva Maydell, a key negotiator of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, praised the registry as an ambitious step towards translating ethical principles into practical applications. She noted that it makes consent more accessible, rights more transparent, and trust more scalable. The launch in Brussels, a significant location for AI regulation, further highlights the initiative's alignment with global efforts to establish responsible AI governance. RSL Media, a public benefit nonprofit, plans to expand the registry to include "Work," "Characters," and "Marks" rights areas in the near future, aiming to build an open consent infrastructure for the AI era that prioritizes human creativity and control.