Pakistani actor Hira Tareen has issued a strong warning to fellow actors. She urged artists to carefully review contracts before signing them.
According to Tareen, certain clauses related to artificial intelligence could have serious consequences. She believes many actors may unknowingly surrender control over their digital identities.
Hira Tareen Reveals Concerning Contract Clause
Tareen shared her concerns through a social media post. She explained that she discovered a troubling clause while reviewing a drama contract in March.
The clause reportedly granted a production company and a television channel ownership of her digital likeness. As a result, it would have allowed them to use her voice, face, and gestures.
She explained the issue in detail and said the clause covered far more than a single project.
“everything that I have as a human being, my voice, my face, my gestures… And not just for that project, for anything, forever”.
After noticing the wording, she raised the matter with the Actors’ Collective of Pakistan (ACT). However, even industry representatives found the situation unusual.
According to Tareen, such language had not previously been common in local entertainment contracts.
Growing Concerns Across the Industry
The actor said the issue did not remain limited to one agreement. Instead, several actors reportedly began receiving similar contracts within weeks.
Consequently, concerns started growing among performers about the future use of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.
Tareen believes these clauses could gradually reduce the need for actors in productions. While the changes may seem harmless at first, she warned that the long-term impact could be significant.
How AI Could Change Acting Jobs
Explaining the possible progression, Tareen outlined a scenario that many actors may face in the future.
“First, they use AI just to make your posters, pretty innocent. Then they use your voice for dubbing. Then they call you in for 10 scenes instead of 20, because now the model is training on your existing likeness and footage that they already have. And then, one day, the model is ready and they don’t need to call you in at all.”
According to her, artificial intelligence systems can learn from existing footage. Therefore, actors who unknowingly grant broad digital rights may eventually lose control over how their image is used.
Lessons From Hollywood
Tareen pointed to developments in Hollywood as an example. She noted that entertainment professionals there took collective action when similar concerns emerged.
She said industry workers went on strike in 2023. As a result, they secured legal protections related to artificial intelligence and digital likeness rights.
However, she acknowledged that Pakistan’s entertainment industry operates differently.
Unlike Hollywood, local actors do not have a union equivalent to SAG-AFTRA. Moreover, many performers already deal with issues involving payments, royalties, and working conditions.
Despite these challenges, Tareen believes AI-related clauses deserve equal attention.
Contract Terms Actors Should Watch For
To help fellow performers, Tareen identified several terms that deserve careful review before signing any agreement.
Actors should pay close attention to the following phrases:
- Likeness
- Perpetuity
- AI training model
- Anything that has the words AI in it
- Digital replica
- Intellectual property (IP)
- Synthetic performance
- Broad IP assignment
According to Tareen, these terms may indicate broader rights being transferred than actors initially realize.
Seek Advice Before Signing
The actor encouraged performers to ask questions whenever contract language appears unclear.
She also advised actors to seek professional guidance when necessary.
“ask questions, contact ACT Pakistan if you need to or consult with a legal attorney”.
Furthermore, she stressed that awareness remains the first line of protection against potential misuse of digital identities.
A Call for Collective Action
While discussing the issue, Tareen emphasized the importance of unity within the industry.
She argued that one individual refusing a questionable clause may not create meaningful change. However, collective action could have a much stronger impact.
“One actor reading the fine print changes nothing. All of us refusing to sign the same clauses in the same agreement changes everything,” Tareen said.
Conclusion
Hira Tareen’s warning has sparked an important conversation about artificial intelligence and performers’ rights. As AI technology advances, contract terms involving digital likeness, synthetic performances, and intellectual property may become increasingly common.
Therefore, actors must carefully review every agreement before signing. Understanding the fine print today could help protect careers and digital identities in the future.
