Do my elected officials really want to hear from me?

100% absolutely, yes! Elected officials are in office because of their constituents, and most genuinely want to understand the issues that matter to the people they represent. Hearing directly from real voters like yourself on specific issues helps legislators understand the real human impact of policy decisions that can otherwise feel abstract. Your voice, particularly as someone who votes and lives in their district, carries real weight.

What typically happens when an elected official receives communications from a constituent?

Most offices track and log every piece of communication they receive. Staff members sort messages by topic and tally how many constituents have contacted the office in favor of or against a particular issue. These tallies are regularly reported to the legislator. When a significant number of constituents weigh in on the same topic, it signals to the official that the issue is important to their district and additional attention may be needed. Tip: Personalized, thoughtful messages about an issue will often carry more weight and get noticed, resulting in the likelihood of a personal response (but never guaranteed).

How do elected officials feel about grassroots advocacy?

Most elected officials view grassroots advocacy favorably and as an important part of the democratic process. It shows that an issue has broad community support beyond professional lobbyists or special interest groups. Legislators are also aware that for every person who takes action, many more constituents likely share the same concerns.

How long is too long when it comes to an effective message to a legislator?

Shorter is almost always better. A message of 200–300 words is ideal. State who you are (their constituent!), what issue you are contacting them about (an issue or bill #), what you are asking them to do (support vs. oppose, co-sponsor, etc.), and why it matters to you personally. Don’t overthink—speak from your heart and experience. Tip: Aim to make your key point in the first two sentences.

Should I include personal information about myself, family, or job in my message?

Including relevant personal context—your profession, your role as a caregiver, or how an issue directly affects you—will make your message more compelling and memorable. Use your judgment and only share what you are comfortable with and what is genuinely relevant. Tip: Avoid including financial details, medical specifics, or other sensitive data. A brief, authentic personal story can make a strong impact without getting too specific.

What happens when I send a message and who typically reads it?

At the federal level, most communications are ingested into an electronic system that segments messages into organized categories reviewed by the appropriate staff. At the state level, messages may go into a similar system or be sent directly to the office email. Constituent messages are initially read by junior staff who sort and categorize them, then reviewed by a legislative aide or policy staffer who specializes in that subject area. Particularly compelling messages may be flagged and brought directly to the legislator’s attention.

How do I find out who my elected officials are and how to contact them?

The advocacy system integrated into the American Vox Pop site will seamlessly connect you to your elected official based on the bill or issue (state vs. federal) and ensure delivery of your message.

Do I need to mention affiliations when contacting an elected official?

If you believe mentioning an affiliation (organization, club, society, etc.) has an advantage, do so—but always start by mentioning your personal connection as their constituent or someone who lives and votes in their district. Your constituent status is your most powerful credential.

Is there anything I should avoid when contacting an elected official?

Stay focused on one topic per message. Avoid foul language, personal attacks, or anything that could be misconstrued as a threat. Do not contact a federal official about a state issue (or vice versa) as it’s outside their jurisdiction. If you don’t have a personal story, don’t make one up—it’s okay to support or oppose an issue based on its merits alone.

Can I really make a difference?

100% yes! When you combine your voice with others in an organized advocacy effort, the cumulative impact can be significant. While quantity does matter, a well-written, heartfelt message from a constituent can and often does shift or enhance an official’s perspective.

Your Voice, Your Face, Your Rights: Securing Federal Protection Against Non-Consensual AI Cloning

Until recently, voice cloning and high-fidelity video synthesis required specialized labs and hours of source data. Today, any motivated actor can clone your voice or face in seconds using a smartphone, creating highly convincing synthetic media of you saying or doing things you never did. This is not just a threat to public figures; it is a direct vulnerability for every everyday American, from students to grandparents.Our current state-by-state legal patchwork is entirely inadequate for the digital age, leaving citizens defenseless against offshore hosts and anonymous bad actors. We the People deserve the legal authority to protect our own digital identities. The Authentic Speech Act establishes a narrow, common-sense federal floor: a private right of action, statutory damages, and a clear takedown framework to restore citizen sovereignty over our own voices and likenesses.

Protect Our Digital Identity: Pass the Authentic Speech Act

With AI cloning requiring only three seconds of audio, our voices and likenesses are vulnerable. Demand Congress pass the Authentic Speech Act to establish a federal right of publicity and protect every American's digital identity.

Why a Federal Right of Publicity Matters

The Three-Second Threat

AI technology has advanced to the point where just three seconds of audio or a single photo is enough to clone a citizen's identity, making identity theft and reputational harm easier than ever.

A Broken State Patchwork

Only 22 states have right-of-publicity statutes, and only 12 cover voice. This fragmented system offers zero protection for citizens living in the remaining states and fails to address interstate or offshore digital harms.

No Enforcement for Ordinary Citizens

Without a federal cause of action and statutory damages, everyday Americans cannot afford the legal representation required to fight fly-by-night clone vendors and anonymous bad actors.

Closing Legislative Window

As we approach major election cycles, the proliferation of non-consensual synthetic media threatens to undermine public trust, personal security, and information integrity. Congress must act now.

Our Proposed Solutions: The Authentic Speech Act

✓

Establish a Federal Right of Publicity

Create a federal right of publicity covering voice, image, and likeness used to generate synthetic media depicting an identifiable person without consent, backed by a private right of action.

✓

Authorize Meaningful Statutory Damages

Provide statutory damages of $25,000 per violation, with treble damages for willful or commercial exploitation, allowing citizens to secure competent legal counsel.

✓

Create a 48-Hour Platform Safe Harbor

Implement a fast-acting platform safe harbor modeled on the DMCA, requiring hosts to act on notarized takedown notices within 48 hours or face liability.

✓

Protect Free Expression and Fair Use

Incorporate clear carve-outs for satire, parody, news reporting, and historical depiction, utilizing the time-tested fair-use framework to safeguard free speech.

✓

Require Department of Justice Accountability

Mandate annual public reporting from the DOJ on enforcement patterns, takedown volumes, and platform compliance to ensure transparency and auditability.

Key Facts at a Glance

3 Seconds

The amount of source audio required to clone a human voice today, down from six hours in 2022.

12 of 50

The number of U.S. states with statutory right-of-publicity laws covering voice, leaving most Americans entirely unprotected.

NONE

The number of comprehensive federal statutes currently protecting citizens from non-consensual synthetic media.

1998

The year the DMCA was enacted, establishing the notice-and-takedown framework that this act modernizes for the AI era.

In The Millions

The estimated number of non-consensual deepfake images circulating online, the majority of which depict private individuals without recourse.

Sample Talking Points

Three seconds of audio is all it takes to clone a voice today. A federal right of action with statutory damages is what gives everyday citizens the power to fight back against digital identity theft.

The DMCA gave us a workable framework for copyright in 1998. The Authentic Speech Act applies that same common-sense standard to our own faces and voices: 48-hour takedowns with clear safe harbors for cooperative platforms.

This is not a censorship bill. By mirroring the 50-year-old fair-use framework, we protect satire, journalism, and free expression while drawing a hard line against non-consensual identity theft.

If a Member of Congress refuses to vote to give citizens the legal standing to remove deepfakes of their own faces, we must ask: whose interests are they actually serving?

Our voices and faces belong to us, not to offshore servers or anonymous clone-as-a-service vendors. It is time for Congress to establish a federal floor for digital sovereignty.

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Engage with American VoxPop. Contact your elected officials to make your voice heard on this campaign.

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AI RegulationDigital RightsConsumer ProtectionPrivacyCongressInformation Integrity

Your Voice, Your Face, Your Rights: Securing Federal Protection Against Non-Consensual AI Cloning

Protect Our Digital Identity: Pass the Authentic Speech Act

Why a Federal Right of Publicity Matters

The Three-Second Threat

A Broken State Patchwork

No Enforcement for Ordinary Citizens

Closing Legislative Window

Our Proposed Solutions: The Authentic Speech Act

Establish a Federal Right of Publicity

Authorize Meaningful Statutory Damages

Create a 48-Hour Platform Safe Harbor

Protect Free Expression and Fair Use

Require Department of Justice Accountability

Key Facts at a Glance

3 Seconds

12 of 50

NONE

1998

In The Millions

Sample Talking Points

Analyzing the Legislative Gap: Why Current Protections Fail

Want to Take Action?

Stay Informed

Advocacy Campaign FAQs

Your Voice, Your Face, Your Rights: Securing Federal Protection Against Non-Consensual AI Cloning

Protect Our Digital Identity: Pass the Authentic Speech Act

Why a Federal Right of Publicity Matters

The Three-Second Threat

A Broken State Patchwork

No Enforcement for Ordinary Citizens

Closing Legislative Window

Our Proposed Solutions: The Authentic Speech Act

Establish a Federal Right of Publicity

Authorize Meaningful Statutory Damages

Create a 48-Hour Platform Safe Harbor

Protect Free Expression and Fair Use

Require Department of Justice Accountability

Key Facts at a Glance

3 Seconds

12 of 50

NONE

1998

In The Millions

Sample Talking Points

Analyzing the Legislative Gap: Why Current Protections Fail

Want to Take Action?

Stay Informed