Human Consent Registry is a new free-to-use public utility tool built around the principle that each user's identity should remain their own intellectual property. That sounds obvious, except perhaps it's not. We now need to make sure every user identity stays in the user's own control and is not allowed to be used by AI systems without explicit permission.

Built by RSL Media and developed together with Member of the European Parliament, Eva Maydell, the Human Consent Registry is designed to “make consent discoverable and actionable” and the technology has been launched to bring together business and policy leaders across technology, music, entertainment and other industries. Introduced late last month, the Registry opens today to the public, providing a free and practical way for people to declare how AI systems may use their name, image, likeness and other identity attributes, promoting transparency and trust while complementing emerging AI policy frameworks.

The location bears its own significance as the place where the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, the world's first comprehensive AI framework, was debated, shaped and adopted. Users can access the Human Consent Registry at rslmedia.org to determine how their identity may be used by AI systems: allowed, allowed with terms, or prohibited. These choices function like a traffic light and provide AI systems a universal way to understand consent. 'Identity' here covers name, image, likeness, voice, movement and other signature or personal attributes.

Why Identity Consent Matters

In recent years, the proliferation of generative AI technologies has raised urgent questions about the use of personal identity without permission. AI systems can now clone voices, generate deepfake videos, and create synthetic images from a person's likeness, often without the individual's knowledge or consent. This has led to widespread misuse, from unauthorized commercial endorsements to malicious impersonation. The Human Consent Registry addresses this gap by giving individuals a clear, enforceable way to state their preferences.

The registry is built on the principle that each person owns their own identity attributes as a form of intellectual property. This is a departure from current norms where platforms and AI developers often assume implied consent unless challenged. With the registry, consent becomes explicit and machine-readable, allowing AI systems to check permissions before using any protected attribute.

Key Figures Behind the Initiative

Actor, producer and RSL Media co-founder Cate Blanchett has been a vocal advocate. “Your identity is your IP in the age of AI, and every person deserves the right to decide how AI can or cannot use it,” said Blanchett. “RSL Media's free Human Consent Registry gives everyone a voice and a way to take action on AI permissions, helping to preserve and protect trust across the evolving AI landscape.”

Eva Maydell, member of the European Parliament and co-founder of the initiative, added: “Today, responsible stewardship is ever more important – ensuring that technology evolves in line with our values and our vision for the future. The RSL Media Public Registry is an ambitious step to translate these principles into practice – a tool that makes rights transparent, scales trust, and keeps human creativity at the centre of technological progress. I am glad to see it launch today – as a legislator, and as a human.”

Nikki Hexum, co-founder and CEO of RSL Media, emphasized the human rights angle: “Consent is a human right. A person should be able to say: this is me, this is what I allow, this is what I do not allow, and this is the safe way to reach me if you need to ask. The public registry is a real-world tool that gives people a place to make their choices clear. We are proud to launch today with the European Parliament, a global force that is leading the way on digital rights and responsible AI use.”

How It Works

Through the RSL Media Human Consent Registry, anyone, even those without technical knowledge, can:

• Register: Create or activate their Human Consent ID and verify their identity through rslmedia.org.
• Declare: Set permissions for their identity: permitted (green), conditional (yellow) or not permitted (red).
• Encode: Permissions get translated into machine-readable signals.
• Verify: AI systems and platforms will be able to check the RSL Media Human Consent Registry before using protected rights.

The registry supports both self-represented individuals and those who work through a third party such as an agent, guild, manager, licensing organisation or trusted representative. A person without representation can register directly for free, while represented individuals can route requests through an approved pathway. This flexibility is designed to cover all scenarios, from independent artists to major celebrities and public figures.

Complementing the EU AI Act

The launch of the Human Consent Registry aligns closely with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which imposes obligations on AI developers to respect fundamental rights and to be transparent about data usage. The registry provides a practical mechanism for complying with the Act's requirements around consent and data governance. It also sets a precedent for other jurisdictions, such as the United States and parts of Asia, where similar legislation is under discussion.

Experts note that while the EU AI Act provides a legal framework, it does not prescribe a specific technical tool for managing consent. The Human Consent Registry fills that gap by offering a public, free, and standardized method that AI developers can integrate into their systems. This could significantly reduce legal risks and operational complexity for companies that process personal identity data.

Future Expansions and Industry Impact

Coming soon, RSL Media will additionally roll out 'Work', 'Characters' and 'Marks' rights areas. These will allow rights holders to manage permissions for creative works, character likenesses, and trademarks separately from personal identity. This will be especially valuable for actors, voice artists, and other performers whose professional output often overlaps with personal attributes.

The broader impact on industries such as entertainment, advertising, and social media could be transformative. For instance, advertisers who wish to use a celebrity's image in an AI-generated campaign will need to first verify consent through the registry. Similarly, studios producing AI-generated digital doubles of actors will have clear guidelines on what is and is not allowed. The registry also offers a built-in auditing trail, making it easier to enforce contracts and seek remedies for violations.

In addition to individual registration, the system provides a public lookup API that AI companies can query programmatically. This ensures real-time consent checking without manual intervention. The signals are designed to be lightweight and privacy-preserving, with no unnecessary sharing of personal data. Only the expressed consent status is exposed; the underlying identity verification remains secure.

The Human Consent Registry is available now at rslmedia.org. With growing support from policymakers and industry leaders, it may soon become a de facto standard for digital identity consent in the AI era.

Source: Computerweekly News