A new artificial intelligence tool developed by ByteDance has sparked concern in Washington. This came after lawmakers raised questions about copyright and intellectual property protections. The AI platform, called Seedance 2.0, can generate highly realistic videos featuring real people and well-known characters.
While the technology quickly drew attention for its advanced capabilities, it also triggered criticism from US senators. They argued the system could enable widespread misuse of copyrighted material.
US senators want Seedance 2.0 AI to shut down
Senators Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Peter Welch of Vermont have urged ByteDance to halt the operation of Seedance 2.0. In a letter addressed to ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo, the lawmakers argued that the AI model represents a serious case of copyright infringement.
“Seedance 2.0 is the most glaring example of copyright infringement from a ByteDance product to date, and you must immediately shut down Seedance,” the senators wrote in the letter, which CNBC first reported.
The lawmakers also pointed to examples generated on the platform after its launch on February 12. Some videos reportedly featured actors such as Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, as well as references to the Netflix series “Stranger Things”. According to the senators, these outputs highlight the risk that AI tools may replicate protected likenesses and intellectual property without permission.
In response, ByteDance acknowledged the concerns and said it is working to address them. A spokesperson for the company told CNBC that ByteDance respects intellectual property rights and is taking steps to strengthen safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of copyrighted material or personal likenesses.
The controversy has also attracted attention from the entertainment industry. Hollywood groups, including the Motion Picture Association, reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance over the AI system.
According to The Information, the company has paused the global launch of Seedance 2.0 while addressing these issues.
The debate highlights broader concerns about how artificial intelligence models are trained and used. While Congress has largely avoided sweeping AI regulation, lawmakers such as Blackburn and Welch have proposed targeted legislation to help artists protect their work from use in AI training.
