Voice is biometric personal data, protected by the EU's GDPR. Fines can reach €20M if your organization, dubbing vendors or customers don't manage voice samples in compliance with GDPR.
GDPR brings numerous obligations to entertainment professionals processing voice personal data. The scenarios outlined below only cover a few of the danger zones that content distributors and service providers need to manage and to ensure partner compliance.
In 2020, non-compliance sanctions issued in major EU dubbing markets such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy 39% over the previous year and a half.
Voice samples & actor details shared during the casting phase put your organization at risk if:
- Stakeholders keep samples and other actor personal data (name, email, tele, etc.) after completion of casting phase and don’t enter the data into GDPR compliant processing
- Samples & actor details (name, email, tele, etc.) are added to your casting database for use in future projects without actor’s trackable consent – obtained 100% independent of work contracts
- Your service providers’ assets are not GDPR compliant
- Live audition samples are added to a casting database for future projects without obtaining trackable actor consent of use that specifies the new processing context and duration
Stakeholders keep voice samples and other actor personal data (name, email, tele, etc.) after completion of casting phase and don't enter data into GDPR compliant processing
During the casting phase, audio service providers share actor information and voice samples with their customers. The samples are uploaded to casting approval portals, sent by email, uploaded to private clouds, etc., along with other actor personal data (name, age, photos, etc.).
Once the casting phase is completed, all personal data subject to GDPR (samples and other identifying information), must be deleted from all supports, by all stakeholders, unless entered into GDPR compliance processing. If data are not deleted, or processed respecting GDPR obligations, the data processing is considered non-compliant and subject to sanctions by GDPR supervisory authorities.
Samples are added to casting databases for use in future projects without trackable consent - obtained 100% independent of work contracts and NDAs
GDPR requires trackable consent of use when adding voice samples and other actor personal data to casting databases. Even though most talents want to be referenced for castings, the GDPR requires data processors respect strict and specific guidelines when keeping this personal data.
Actor consent must be collected 100% independently of work contracts and NDAs. The EU legislation considers consent collected in relation to a work contract or NDA as a subordinate relation and unlawful.
Your services providers' assets are not GDPR compliant
GDPR introduces the notion of compliance co-responsibility. Every project stakeholder is co-responsible for the compliance of their partners, from subcontracted studios to final content distributors.
Casting databases kept by audio service providers are often composed of samples collected over long periods of time. If the assets are not processed respecting GDPR laws, and used in projects contracted by your organisation, you are at risk of sanctions by GDPR supervisory authorities.
Live audition samples are added to a casting database without obtaining trackable actor consent of use that specifies the new processing context and duration
Live audition/casting samples are created for specific projects. Contracts cannot stipulate unlimited processing once the casting phase is completed.
The personal data falls under the scope of GDPR and trackable consent of use specifying the new context and duration must be obtained.

Identifying International Data Privacy Risks in Localization Operations
In today’s increasingly digital and global age, many companies in the media and entertainment sector have embraced a critical strategy for capturing new markets worldwide:

White Paper: Vendor & Freelancer Privacy Risks in Localisation
How to comply with data privacy Localisation workflows include processing high volumes of freelancer personal data (translators, adaptors, subtitlers, etc.) by the supply chain. The

[NEW] Role importation, actor & sample management, and much more!
Discover some of the cool updates we had up our sleeves. Import a list of roles directly to your casting Working on a project with

Why the worldwide localization industry should worry about GDPR
As published in the Reteller Magazine, October 2021 Issue – Written by Attorney Henri Leben, LEBEN AVOCATS, Paris. The voice constitutes personal data, and it

[Updates v3.4] Castings: Client Comments, Ratings and Sharing
This long-awaited feature will amaze you! Now the people you share your castings with can comment on and rate samples. And with your authorisation – revocable

Webinar – Are You Breaking The Law? A Guide to GDPR for Dubbing and Voice Over Assets
Webinar replay Mediartis is co-hosting a webinar with EGA (Entertainment Globalization Association) next Tuesday, October 19th at 5 PM (London) – 6PM (Paris) — 9AM