The French voice actors behind Apex Legends have reportedly taken a stand against signing a contract designed to use their voices for AI training.
This move was led by Pascale Chemin, the voice of Wraith in the French version of the popular battle royale game. She expressed her concerns on Twitter, highlighting that a publisher, likely Electronic Arts, had included a new clause in their contracts. This clause would have allowed the actors’ voices to be used for developing AI models. While Chemin didn’t specifically name the game or publisher, it’s widely believed she was referring to Apex Legends and EA.
In solidarity, 31 other voice actors from the project also refused to sign the agreement. Together, they’ve sent a letter to the publisher, declaring their stance.
Chemin emphasized the importance of this collective action, stating, “If we don’t unite now to ensure a clause safeguarding our voices is included in our contracts—not just for us, but for all video game voiceover studios—we risk facing significant consequences.”
She continued, acknowledging the precarious situation many actors face: “Refusing work today seems unreasonable, especially when opportunities are scarce for many of us. Financial struggles are real, and a paycheck is undeniably needed. However, we’re being asked to do more than work. We’re being asked to relinquish our skills to train AI systems that could potentially replace us in the future. They want our endorsement for something we’re actively opposing. Essentially, it’s like asking us to undercut our own profession.”
