Tsuda presses TikTok to remove videos alleged to copy his voice
Japanese voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda is seeking removal of TikTok videos he says use an AI copy of his voice. His lawsuit was filed the previous November and had already been reported in May; a Tokyo court decision is expected Wednesday. TikTok disputes that the narration identifies him. The pending decision could address whether the platform must remove videos when a performer alleges an unauthorized voice imitation.
Artificial Intelligence··Midday
Tsuda seeks removal of the videos
Japanese voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda is suing TikTok’s operator to remove videos he says use an AI imitation of his voice. An AFP account published by France 24 on September 27 says the Tokyo District Court is expected to rule Wednesday. Jiji’s account published by The Japan Times on May 26 had already reported that the suit was filed the previous November. This is therefore an existing case approaching a decision, not a newly filed September lawsuit or a claim first disclosed this week.[1], [2]
The parties dispute whose voice the narration resembles
The complaint concerns an anonymous account whose videos narrated urban legends and conspiracy material in a voice Tsuda says resembles his own. AFP says the account once had more than 200,000 followers; the complaint alleged potential monthly revenue above 500,000 yen. Tsuda’s lawyers argue that the actor’s recognisable voice drew attention to the posts and that its use infringed his publicity right, which concerns control over commercial use of aspects of identity. TikTok disputes the identification, calling the narration a generic male voice and the similarity subjective. The account is no longer viewable, but the court must address the platform’s responsibility for removal.[1]
The case was already public in May
Jiji’s May account says the complaint covers at least 188 videos posted by one account between July 2024 and September 2025. The claim before the Tokyo District Court is that unauthorized imitation infringed Tsuda’s publicity right. TikTok had already argued then that the narration was not distinctively his. In the September AFP account, Japan Actors Union executive Yuko Sasaki supported Tsuda and described a performer’s voice as the product of years of training. Japan has no law explicitly enshrining a voice; nonbinding Justice Ministry guidance issued last month treats voice as part of personality and publicity rights. Whether the court relies on that guidance remains unresolved.[1], [2]
Related columns
For more information on this topic, you can read the related columns.
