Screen Actors Guild Files Charges Against Epic Games Subsidiary Over AI Darth Vader

The Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, filed a labor complaint against Llama Productions, a subsidiary of Epic Games, on Monday. The complaint accuses the company of replacing voice actors with artificial intelligence without union consent. The move follows public backlash last week over an AI-generated Darth Vader character in the popular video game Fortnite that used racial slurs and offensive language.

SAG-AFTRA alleges Llama Productions used AI to create the Darth Vader character in Fortnite’s crossover event, “Galactic Battles.” They did so without notifying or negotiating with the union, violating labor agreements, the complaint alleges. “We became aware when the press release hit the wires,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson told Decrypt.

A labor relations board charge, also known as an unfair labor practice charge, is a complaint that claims an employer or union has violated labor relations law. SAG-AFTRA maintains that its involvement is essential in any decision to replace human work with AI. “This charge concerns the union’s critical role in negotiating terms concerning the replacement of bargaining unit work with AI technology,” the spokesperson said. “We are very supportive of AI tools to enhance the audience experience, but employers cannot implement these types of uses without coming to the union first and bargaining terms.”