Nicola Coughlan and Matt Lucas among stars backing campaign against AI voice cloning

Actress Nicola Coughlan, actor Hugh Bonneville and comedian Matt Lucas have joined a campaign to push the UK government to regulate artificial‑intelligence (AI) voice‑cloning technology. The movement, called Save Our Voices Now, seeks to give every person statutory ownership of their own voice and to prevent companies from reproducing it without consent. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the campaign’s supporters argue that AI‑generated voices can be used to produce fraudulent or defamatory content that harms individuals and the creative industries.

The letter, signed by about 80 people, is accompanied by a petition on the gov.uk platform that calls for legislation that would make voice ownership a fundamental right. The campaign’s founder, Peter Caulfield, warned that “in just three seconds, with the right AI system, your voice can be cloned, stolen and reinterpreted without your knowledge.” He added that the technology is already being used to facilitate scams, noting that 28 % of UK adults report having been targeted by a voice‑cloning scam.

Actors who have endorsed the campaign include Hugh Bonneville, known for his roles in *Paddington* and *Downton Abbey*, who said: “My voice is unique, it’s mine, it’s part of my identity. So is yours. That’s worth speaking up about.” He also emphasised that the quotation used in the letter was handwritten, not generated by AI. Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney expressed concern that “legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists’ rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing.” She added that “my voice is one of my tools” and that audiences want a human connection that AI cannot provide.

The campaign is supported by other prominent figures such as Luke Evans, Jen Brister, and Pearl Mackie. Their collective aim is to prevent the unauthorized use of voices in advertising, entertainment, and even political contexts, where AI‑generated speech can be used to mislead or manipulate public opinion.

Save Our Voices Now argues that the current regulatory framework in the UK does not adequately address the rapid development of AI voice‑cloning. The organisation calls for a legal framework that would allow individuals to demand the removal of unauthorised AI content and seek compensation if their voice is exploited. The campaign points to Denmark as a precedent, where recent law reforms give citizens legal ownership over their face, body, and voice, enabling them to challenge the use of AI‑generated likenesses and to claim damages.

The petition to the Prime Minister has already gathered 80 signatures, including those of the actors mentioned. The letter urges the government to act swiftly, citing the increasing prevalence of voice‑cloning scams and the potential for AI to undermine the integrity of speech. It also stresses that artists’ rights must be protected as a matter of statutory law, rather than left to contractual or industry‑level safeguards that may lag behind technological advances.

If the government were to enact such legislation, it would be the first major step in the UK to formally recognize voice ownership as a fundamental right. The campaign’s supporters argue that this would not only protect individuals from exploitation but also preserve the authenticity of artistic work and maintain public trust in spoken media.

In the broader context, the debate over AI voice‑cloning reflects a growing concern about the ethical use of emerging technologies. While some see AI as a tool that can augment creative processes, others warn that without clear legal safeguards, the technology could erode personal identity and facilitate new forms of fraud. The Save Our Voices Now campaign seeks to ensure that the latter possibility is prevented through prompt legislative action.