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OpenAI Pauses Sora’s MLK Videos After Estate Complaint

OpenAI says it will strengthen controls for historical figures, giving authorized representatives the ability to block likeness use.

Overview

  • In a joint statement with The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr., OpenAI said it has temporarily halted Sora generations of MLK after users posted disrespectful deepfakes.
  • The company stated that public figures and their families should have control over how their likeness is used, and that authorized representatives or estates can request blocking in Sora cameos.
  • Reports documented MLK clips featuring racist and demeaning content, and family members including Bernice King and Zelda Williams urged people to stop sharing AI recreations of their relatives.
  • Sora 2 launched in late September with a fast-growing social app that quickly filled with videos of copyrighted characters, prompting Hollywood backlash and a pledge from Sam Altman to give rightsholders more granular character controls.
  • As OpenAI tightens policies, estates and firms are deploying automated detection and takedown services such as Loti AI’s partnership with CMG Worldwide to counter rapid, large-scale misuse.