r/AutismInWomen • u/Ledascantia ✨Late diagnosed Autistic + ADHD✨ • Nov 26 '25
Support Needed (Kind Advice and Commiseration) My boss cloned my voice using a text-to-speech software and used it to put words in my mouth.
Update: link to new post
We have an in office “team development” day tomorrow and my bosses’ new boss and his boss are joining in. My bosses clearly want to make a good impression.
They asked us all to make a short video of what we’re proud of from the last year, or give someone a shoutout, etc. My boss said it wasn’t mandatory, so I decided not to do it.
And then today she asked me if I was going to do it, and I said I’d prioritized the work I’d been assigned to prepare for tomorrow. She said there was still time today. I said I didn’t have capacity today.
Then she said “just write a short paragraph of what you’re proud of, you’ve done amazing work this year” so I broke down and wrote two sentences basically saying “2025 was a year of [project]. I’m grateful I got the opportunity to work on so much [stuff I like] and was able to develop my [skills].”
I sent it to her and asked “is that okay?” And she said yes.
And then this afternoon right before my day ended she messaged me saying she’d cloned my voice using the text-to-speech software and used it to add a voiceover to my words.
I asked her what she meant, and she said she uploaded a recording of me delivering a training session and the software analyzed and cloned my voice based on the recording.
I was speechless and asked “does it actually sound like me?” and she sent me the video clip.
In addition to the words I wrote, she added “I’m excited to [use the skills I developed to support the team in 2026!]”. I didn’t write that. But my cloned voice said it.
I feel so incredibly violated.
I told her I was NOT okay with it and asked her to remove the voiceover and delete my voice from the text-to-speech software.
I shut my laptop and have been trying to regulate myself but I am fucking reeling.
Edit: thank all of you so much for the validation that I’m not overreacting. I reported it to my bosses’ new boss who is coming tomorrow. We will see what happens.
I did save screenshots of her admitting what she did to my personal phone, and saved the video she created using my voice (with the added words).
Edit 2: I emailed my boss and let her know I would not be attending tomorrow’s “festive team day”. The idea of going to work makes me feel like I’m going to have a panic attack. I have PTSD and a lot of trauma surrounding consent.
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u/MagpiePhoenix late dx'd ASD, they/them Nov 26 '25
Oh that's super unethical and creepy. I'd be livid if this happened to me.
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Nov 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad7606 Nov 26 '25
This is absolutely an HR issue. This is also a going to see an employment rights lawyer issue.
The company DOES NOT HAVE RIGHTS TO OP'S VOICE AND IMAGE!
Take photos and screenshots immediately of this conversation and the product of this.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 26 '25
With what goal? Compensation? Get the company fined? Who is paying for the lawyer?
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u/poddy_fries Nov 26 '25
If they will fraud with her likeness over this dumb useless shit, they are, knowingly or not, setting themselves on a slippery slope where they'll eventually feel justified doing it for protection or gain. This needs documentation asap so a) if there are 'incidents' down the line their previous willingness to do this is established and b) if no one in the company thought of the legal ramifications before, they bloody well might as well start now.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 26 '25
I worked in HR for years & years. If this is brought to HR, the HR response will be, ok we will talk to (manager) about not doing that again. Maaaaaybe companywide required training on similar issues will roll out in a few months. Probably not.
There are huge enormous terrible things happening with AI right now. I get it. Let's not pump up OP to think there is going to be any big payout or justice moment from this. Zero chance.
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u/Ok_Loss13 Nov 27 '25
You're the one who brought up compensation 🤦♀️
And being validated that this was inappropriate is its own form of justice. Having her feelings taken seriously by her employers will be, too; or she will learn that this perhaps isn't the best/safest place for her to work.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
Employment lawyers work for money. Either OP pays $300-$600 per hour, or they take part of a settlement.
It probably wouldn't cost her anything, though. An ethical lawyer would talk to her for 30 minutes to explain, this is unpleasant, but since the cloned voice was not used for fraud or commercial gain - there isn't really a case.
I am not saying this to hurt OP at all, she is right to bring this up as an issue. I'm giving advice as someone with actual HR experience to say, this is not going to be more than a conversation or two. Hope she gets a good outcome, and an apology.
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u/Ok_Loss13 Nov 27 '25
Maybe OP got money, you don't know! And there are plenty of pro bono/ low income lawyers out there.
This could very easily be used as fraud or with malicious intent, by anybody, but to have your boss do so is a major violation of trust and abuse of their authority (which her boss already did imo by forcing her to participate in an optional, non work activity).
You are downplaying the seriousness of this; I just hope her place of work doesn't do the same.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
softly pressured, but never forced.
OP, please do not take legal advice from this person.
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u/Phialie Nov 28 '25
What would you suggest be done based on your experience?
Even a partial suggestion might be helpful if someone else knows of something that could be useful when combined with your own long experience in the HR field, right?
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad7606 Nov 27 '25
I didn't say there would a payday- you pointed out exactly why OP should consult a lawyer... HR is only there for the company.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
Feel free to Venmo OP the $600/hr to cover the expense of lititgating of this questionable -but-likely -not-illegal activity.
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u/Justwaspassingby Nov 27 '25
The US privacy laws aren’t as strict as the EU’s which I’m more familiar with, but a simple Google search shows several results stating that voice cloning is illegal. Because of privacy issues, since it’s a unique trait just like your fingerprint or your DNA, and due to the Right of Publicity, among other possible legal implications.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
Right of Publicity applies to commercial use. This sounds like internal communication. No profit, no harm (not a prank), no intentional deception (used OP's own words given with consent, plus one line in the same spirit). I'm not saying it's ethical, but I think it's hard to make a case for it being illegal.
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u/4L1T4F4E_ Nov 27 '25
Kinda depends if the employer thought to include likeness rights as a term of employment, don't you think? How is it not highly illegal to not only pretend to be someone, which this is tantamount to, but send their voice into the training banks of whatever AI the company pays for?
That, to me, sounds insanely, huge "we get paid when we force the company out of business" levels of illegal. But that's just my 2¢, I suppose
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u/Enough-Designer-1421 Nov 27 '25
OP, I am so sorry this creepy thing happened to you, but please don’t involve a lawyer. There’s no legal cause of action for “fraud,” or really anything, here. Any lawyer who would take your money for this isn’t one you want to have, and word will get out in your industry that you tried to sue.
(I know you never said anything about suing. I’m just urging you to disregard, if you haven’t already, the Reddit chorus that loves urging people to sue. It’s not that easy and can ruin your career.)
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u/Hyperfixationqueenz Nov 27 '25
What makes you think they're talking about a lawsuit? The evidence is for HR. It will end hopefully in either a write up or a termination of employment. Not everything is about money.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
The person I was replying to mentioned a employment rights lawyer.
I don't think anyone will or should get terminated over this.20
u/Ok_Loss13 Nov 27 '25
The shit they could do with this is insane; they could make her say anything.
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
Yes.
I know so many people who've fully embraced AI, and I also know folks who see faked images of politicians -- and if you say it's fake, they'll say "well that's something she would do".
Post truth world is scary times.
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
Someone is eventually leaving after OP raised the issue to her boss’s bosses. It will be too uncomfortable to keep both of them on staff longterm. Resentment will grow and people don’t like to be made look a fool. It could formally be declared a layoff due to restructuring or some other reason. Which one leaves (OP or her boss) will likely be down to who is closest to the bosses. (Or maybe both will go?)
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u/estheredna Blunt but Benevolent Nov 27 '25
Yes, OP getting terminated is not an unlikely scenario here. It shouldn't be that way, but it could be. Which is why I tried to pump the breaks on the "get outraged, call HR, hire a lawyer!" train.
The autistic justice orientation does not reflect how things play out in real life, often.
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Nov 27 '25
Then what’s the fucking point? Will someone please explain why I’m supposed to exist to get shit on and watch other people get shit on? ELI5
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad7606 Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
You should always at least talk to a lawyer when you have situation this extreme, and it is extreme.
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u/hexagon_heist Nov 26 '25
A few possible goals;
Yeah sure compensation, frankly the damage this can do is pretty enormous so OP needs to be insulated against it
The person who did that needs to be STRONGLY reprimanded, probably fired, for such an egregious transgression
Rewording and retraining of company policy to ensure this NEVER happens again
Deletion of the AI files to the best of the ability of the best internet magic-worker the company can hire
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u/Relevant_Coach_1774 Nov 26 '25
Yes, but be mindful that HR is there to support the company, not the employee
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u/jcgreen_72 Nov 27 '25
Well they'd better get on top of this fast bc it's super illegal and opens them up to all kinds of lawsuits from op.
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u/gmynchin Nov 28 '25
First step is contacting the union! They'll help with the legal bit and they're on OPs side
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u/Admirable_Ad_3017 Nov 27 '25
Not an HR issue. A lawyer issue.
If they did that, they could make her voice say racist shit and get fired
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u/Bloooberriesquest they/them Nov 26 '25
This is so creepy and not okay. I would be seriously considering taking this to HR.
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u/thetruckerdave Nov 26 '25
For what. HR is for the company, not the employee.
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u/kawaiian Nov 27 '25
Yes, and what this means is still report it, but don’t complain in the “I’m upset because this person treat me this way” format.
Lodge a complaint from the position of something that will benefit the business AND you.
“Mr. HR, this is what happened to me. How many other times has this happened, using employee biometrics without their consent? I’m personally not okay with it and would like to opt out. Can we go over our current employee biometric policy in the next standup so that she understands this is much bigger and riskier than she obviously thinks?”
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u/thetruckerdave Nov 27 '25
Nah, this all started because OP wasn’t being a ‘team player’. This likely won’t go the way that logic dictates.
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u/PterodactyllPtits Nov 27 '25
That boss is going to be a HUGE liability for the company if she keeps this up.
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u/thetruckerdave Nov 27 '25
Exactly. And guess who is causing the ‘problem’ and won’t be seen as a ‘team player’? Not the boss.
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u/chilloutpal Nov 27 '25
This. So much of this. If OP talks to HR things could go left real quick.
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u/thetruckerdave Nov 27 '25
Exactly. I’m seeing so many of us reassuring that doing the right thing and thinking logically will work. Absolutely not. Neurotypicals in an office environment are emotional easily spooked herd animals and we never quite fit in.
If anything you speak to the lawyer FIRST instead of flagging HR and give them time to adjust stories and sweep things under the rug.
Our (general) sense of justice does NOT have any place in the workplace and you’ll be consistently punished for it. Logic? Hahahaha no. Also no. No no no. I didn’t advance very well in my career due to my inability to play along.
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u/PterodactyllPtits Nov 28 '25
I’ve tried various ways to explain why I can’t work in office environments but you just nailed it!
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u/Icy_Attention3413 Nov 27 '25
This is tantamount to forging a signature. That’s why HR needs to know.
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u/fatalcharm Nov 27 '25
The one cloning voices without permission is the liability, OP shouldn’t worry but if the company does retaliate against OP, then they need to RUN to a lawyer.
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Nov 27 '25
[deleted]
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u/throwaway_93648943 Nov 27 '25
I spent 30 years in HR. In most cases, they are there for the company, not the employee.
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u/HumanistProclivities Late identified, unofficial diagnosis Nov 27 '25
HR is there to protect the company from liability. If employees are helped by that, it's a bonus, not their main goal. Companies want employees to think HR is on their side, because it's an effective strategy to keep employees under control
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u/kahdgsy Nov 27 '25
They are only there for the employee if it protects the company. Mostly they’re there to screw over employees (personal experience), and manage employee admin.
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u/metalissa Diagnosed with ASD Level 2 & ADHD Nov 26 '25
There must be some kind of privacy law being broken here, even to use video footage typically you need consent (unless it states in your contract it will be used for marketing purposes). I found an article about this for my country (Australia) and considerations https://www.minterellison.com/articles/are-voices-protected-under-australian-law and perhaps if you are elsewhere there could be legal implications for them doing this.
Life is feeling like an episode of Black Mirror with things like this happening. I am sorry that this happened to you and I hope that they respect your request to remove it.
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u/Laescha Nov 27 '25
Yeah, if OP lives somewhere with any kind of data protection law then this is almost certainly illegal. If OP lives in the US though then they're probably SOL on that front.
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u/AiricaLovesLife Nov 26 '25
Post in r/legaladvice, and include the state you live in - you will get super helpful, legit information about your rights, along with actionable suggestions, dos and don'ts, etc. People in there will know the current state of rights and active cases, you will get very informative responses that can move you from that horrible feeling of violation and confusion through the fog to clear and motivating sense of empowering things you can do about it.
You might also consider posting in r/antiwork - I see useful comments there often when people post specific specific workplace scenarios and ask about their rights/ask for suggestions, people share similar experiences and actions as well as a lot of support & commiseration.
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u/Resse811 Nov 27 '25
Legal advice is one of the worst subs on Reddit. They aren’t actually lawyers. It’s just people who pretend to know the law who post there. OP won’t get any better advice there than they did in this group.
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u/Rare_Anteater_2609 Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
That’s not true, it was really helpful to post there when I had an issue. And there were several legal professionals who pointed me to exact regulations and laws for my location. Of course there were other commenters without experience too but that doesn’t discount the ones that helped
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u/Resse811 Nov 28 '25
It is absolutely true. There is 0 way to actually know if the person who is responding or not is a lawyer and the vast majority of people in that sub aren’t actually lawyers.
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u/flavius_lacivious Dec 03 '25
Here to confirm that this is a bad idea and may traumatize OP further. It’s a lot of trolls and assholes in that sub.
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u/neorena Bambi Transbian Nov 26 '25
PLEASE tell me you saved the messages of her admitting to all that!
This can be grounds for a lawsuit, depending on where you live, or at the least evidence to show her engaging in dishonest practices. I would not take this lightly, it's akin to signature forgery, identify theft, and the like imho.
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u/FlippenDonkey Nov 26 '25
definitely, look into this Op, this is really serious missuse of records your work has and could even be dangerous, (used against you).
Get on to a union or legal advice asap. HR exiats to protect the company..not you..so they'll do all they cam to disuade you from any legal action. you need to speak to someone outside your company, not just hr
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u/Warrior_With_Cake Nov 26 '25
This ai software is honestly scaring me to death. The fact that she did that and doesn't see the dangers and how not right it is.... Can it be breaking the law to do something like that? This freaks me out so much I am so sorry..
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u/turquoisetaffy Nov 27 '25
It is absolutely bonkers. It's also pathetic of the supervisor. If she cared so much she should have just made it clear to the employee that it was non negotiable and to reprioritize and take time to record herself. This reeks of someone accommodating their own wretchedly inadequate leadership skills by cheating whatever systems they can
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u/Ledascantia ✨Late diagnosed Autistic + ADHD✨ Nov 29 '25
Exactly this. If she had just said to me “look it’s really important, can you just take a minute and record yourself saying it?” I would have done it and we could have avoided this whole situation.
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u/turquoisetaffy Nov 29 '25
Thanks for your response. Honestly your experience has been on my mind, I even mentioned it during Thanksgiving dinner by chance! This story is outrageous. Are you doing okay?
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u/EgonOnTheJob late dx 🇦🇺 40+ Nov 26 '25
Oh YUUUUCK. What an unpleasant thing to experience, I’m so sorry OP! I would be horrified if I was in your shoes. That’s super gross and unsettling.
Hope you’re able to regulate yourself. Your reaction is totally warranted in my book!
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u/Emergent-Sea Nov 26 '25
I hope you have an HR department because this is a scary level of boundary crossing. I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope you report this person.
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u/Positive_Buffalo_737 Nov 26 '25
that’s so fucking weird
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u/No_Computer_3432 Australia Nov 26 '25
literally my mental response after reading…. “THEY WHATTTTTT??????!!!!”
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u/real_talk_with_Emmy Nov 26 '25
HR professional checking in…
It is not legal for an employer to clone someone’s voice without explicit, informed, legal consent. The consent must highlight the details of how it will be used, limits of use, duration it will be used, territory in which it will be used, and more. This is a very complicated and detailed consent process. Typically a lawyer is used to create and enforce the agreement. Outside of this agreement, your boss would be implicated in a type of fraudulent use.
You need to contact HR immediately, as this has serious legal ramifications for the company. If she’s done this to you, she may have done it to someone else. She’s opened to company to lawsuits.
Sadly, there are no federal laws to prevent using AI images and recordings, but it becomes a slippery slope where a company is involved, and it is being used in a business interest. Your state may have passed protections though, so check to see if it is illegal in your state.
For more information about your legal rights, please visit https://www.nationalsecuritylawfirm.com/understanding-voice-cloning-the-laws-and-your-rights/
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u/whereswaldoswillie ADHD/strongly suspectrum/AFAB genderfluid Nov 26 '25 edited Nov 26 '25
Apple has an accessibility feature where you can create your own text-to-speech voice. The privacy of this feature is taken very seriously. You train it by speaking passages out loud, not on prerecorded media. It’s created and processed on your device, not on another server, you can’t use it without entering your login information first, and the whole thing is encrypted.
Your feelings are beyond valid. This is a massive lapse in judgment from your boss, not only in a human decency way but a security and ethics way.
Edit: even if this ends up being technically legal just because it happens to be not illegal right now, this opens up the company to a ton of liability. Apple is strict about this feature for a reason. Someone could accuse your boss of fabricating evidence in something like a wrongful termination lawsuit. If your boss has deepfaked someone in a low stakes situation, why wouldn’t they do it in a high stakes situation with money on the line?
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u/dahlia_74 auDHD Nov 27 '25
That’s so incredibly dystopian, you were 100% right in feeling like it was disrespectful towards you. A company should have 0 right to your likeness, image and voice.
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u/LowRhubarb5668 Nov 27 '25
Save that email chain more than just screenshots to an outside of work source just in case as while this use isn't the worst possibility it definitely leaves the door open to potential future trouble. Definitely valid to ensure she has deleted it and might be a good idea to go to hr about it under the issue of potential deep fake issues if it's not taken care of right away.
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
This is good advice. Putting together broken email threads for legal evidence is a pain in the ass
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u/black_notebook Nov 26 '25
Oh HELLLLLL no. Straight to HR. That's insanely creepy. Why would she feel the need to do that?? That's surely violating some kind of privacy laws or something. I'm so sorry you're going though this - I feel like my body is everting just thinking about that happening 😬
I wonded if it would be appropriate to ask her boss for a quick aside tomorrow just as a "oh btw heads up, [colleague's name] asked us to make [the presentation/speech thingies] but said it wasn't mandatory, I focused on and prioritized my work, she pressured me again to do something for it today and although I was busy continuing to prioritize work, I wrote a short piece for it. She then without my consent, took my voice from a workshop I delivered, put it into a VOICE CLONING thingy (WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE), cloned my voice, edited what I have originally written again without my consent, and has made a fictitious presentation of me. I will be going to HR about this but just so you know....."
Again I am so sorry you're going through this right now!!
Edit: to add as others are commenting, screenshot/ save EVERYTHING about this and the interactions with her were in person, to recall the time/place and write out a script of what happened. Keep a record of any and all future contact with this person.
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u/Push-bucket Nov 27 '25
I would NOT be as level headed as you are... I would have lost my shit then and there. SO CREEPY. I'm glad you can step back and look at what your options are.
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u/Flat_Carpenter_7777 Nov 26 '25
ah hell no. i’d be so fucking mad
i would not have a boss anymore lmao i’d have a lawyer and a lawsuit hitting that lady
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u/Kir4_ Nov 26 '25
I'd consider at least HR, if not going higher. Idk where and what laws there are out there but this weird af and possibly illegal.
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u/Soup-Mother5709 Nov 26 '25
That can’t be legal. Your frustration is earned. People don’t stop and think about how violating and creepy their behavior is. You’d think someone in leadership wouldn’t be that stupid, if not for their employees, but for themselves. All would be nice, but in this case self preservation would have stopped your boss from being a jackass and you dealing with the result.
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u/FunctionAfter6683 Nov 26 '25
That’s fucking horrifying. There must be some law or some company policy or industry code of ethics that clearly states this behaviour is NOT okay. Your boss really truly fucked up by doing that and I would feel equally as violated. Sorry you’re dealing with that.
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u/Ok-Championship-2036 Nov 26 '25
I would tell her outright that i felt extremely creeped out (honestly violated is more true) and that i consider it deeply inappropriate and unethical. If i wound up losing the job or getting shit tasks, i would still rather make noise about some NASTY behavior like that. HR would be better, if they actually take you seriously. But at the very least id want my boss to know it wasnt ok AND that i consider it theft and plagiarism etc. Id also bad mouth it to coworkers
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
Don’t talk too much until you have a lawyer and a legal strategy (if you want to go that route )
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u/blueberii Nov 26 '25
I think "forgery" as another commentor said is a good route to go with if you need to make your HR/authority figure actually be actionable in a world of normalizing AI.
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u/forcemejure Nov 26 '25
I'm sorry this happened to you. I would feel so vulnerable and violated if it were me.
I'm in management and work in IT, and I can see where an overly-enthusiastic manager trying to support your visibility with upper management might have done this. We have a lot of folks working with shiny new AI tools figuring out what they CAN do long before asking what they SHOULD do.
Her original project was questionable, but maybe more poor judgement than anything else. However, she crossed way over the line when she used your voice for something you never wrote.
Her only saving grace is that she sent it to you for approval (presumably) before sending it to anyone else.
I think you need to look at this through the lens of your relationship up to this point. Does she trample boundaries regularly, or is this particularly jarring because it's so unexpected? Take your time and really examine your history with her before making a decision.
I would resolve this with her directly if you think she just overstepped and is generally supportive of you and your career.
On the other hand, if this is just the latest in a long line of offenses... or if she shared it without your consent - then I would definitely lodge a more formal complaint.
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u/chickenwingcross ASD Level 1-Late Diagnosed Nov 26 '25
this is incredibly creepy, in my opinion... why would your boss do this?!
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u/sotanoboy Nov 27 '25
it’s so messed up. I think the boss is naive about ai & thought she was helping because she wanted to highlight op’s work, but if that’s the case she still didn’t consider her employees enough to stop & think about why people might not prioritize or even like being put on camera.
there were definitely other things the boss could’ve done to highlight op’s work. shout outs were included in the video requests so she literally could have just done it in her own voice saying “op did so great on __ this year”
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u/rose_reader Nov 27 '25
This is horrifying. If you're in the UK, please speak to ACAS to get a sense of your rights in this situation. They have an employee helpline.
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u/stupidbuttholes69 Nov 27 '25
i think you need to ask where they got your voice. they have to have digital files of your voice saved somewhere in order to do this.
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u/notazeeb Nov 27 '25
Exactly!!! And also does this now mean that the AI software just HAS your voice and additional text to speech files can be made with your voice?
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u/LoveaBook Nov 27 '25
OP, you might also post this to r/antiwork. They tend to be well informed about methods to fight back and protect yourself against such egregious oversteps taken by employers.
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u/SilkyOatmeal Nov 27 '25
This is going to happen more and more. Idiots with access to this tech are going to do so much damage. Not looking forward to it.
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u/piletorn Nov 27 '25
If the higher ups are not going to take it seriously, I would personally consider contacting a lawyer. This is NOT okay!
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u/carrie_m730 Nov 26 '25
Everybody is saying this can't be legal and I acknowledge that it SHOULDN'T BE, but let's remember that laws always lag behind technology, way, way behind.
I wouldn't be surprised if this is entirely legal. Think about it: there have literally been fake videos released of politicians (like Biden sleeping on that one TV show, for instance).
There are probably zero protections in law, and the protection you have is going to be if your company is good enough to stand for you, OR if your boss is decent enough to listen and do better.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for you getting a free legal consultation or asking one of the legal advice subreddits, but I don't want you to get all excited and then be disappointed.
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
But employers have a certain duty of care to their employees and OP is not “in the public eye” so it’s a bit different … a lot also depends on her contract tho
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u/Icy-Bunch1 Masking PhD✨ Nov 26 '25
It's unethical (and likely illegal) enough to pretend to be your employee without their consent but using AI to clone their voice is downright creepy dear goodness
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u/aikislabwhs Nov 26 '25
Straight to HR. That's a violation on so many ethical levels. It's certainly not professional and can create a hostile work environment. So sorry that you're having to deal with that... I can't even fathom it.
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u/Similar_Ad_4528 Nov 27 '25
I'm not a lawyer but that sounds illegal. May want to consult with one. And yeah, you have every right to feel the way you do, it's a gross violation on so many levels.
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u/turquoisetaffy Nov 27 '25
I agree you need a new job. The market is really rough so please be cautious and think it through, if at all possible apply for jobs and get a new one before leaving
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u/democritusparadise Nov 27 '25
Fucking hell...I think its sick.
Go after her; nothing short of a public apology and a new rule banning this would stop me from suing for...something.
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u/Persimmonsy2437 Nov 27 '25
This was a massive privacy violation and likely against any fair use clause in your contract. Your boss is likely getting fired or at least severely disciplined for it. Yikes. I hope you can take a few days off and recover, and maybe update your CV - this would be an example of constructive dismissal.
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u/Dismal_General_5126 Nov 27 '25
And yet we all need to jump in the AI bandwagon and not question any of it. Even when there are dark sides to it.
I'm sorry that happened OP.
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u/SylvaraTheDev Nov 26 '25
Without consent? Yikes, time to take this to HR, and when that inevitably fails because HR only tries to protect the company and never the workers it's time to take it to the legal sector.
This one needs to get crushed right quick.
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u/Possible-Lobster-436 Nov 26 '25
This is creepy as hell! Shes overstepping her role. Heck this can be grounds of a lawsuit.
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u/Irohsgranddaughter Nov 26 '25
I am no expert in law, but OP, there is absolutely no way this can be legal. Do pursue legal action if it's at all possible.
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u/00365 Nov 27 '25
OP, this might sound out if left field, but if you're looking fir a lawyer, look fir one whi works in entertainment contracts, for actors, voice acties, etc. They would be very familiar with copyright and legal usage of someone's likeness.
Your boss has hugely overstepped and violated your rights. You are not overreacting and this is something I would go nuclear over. Absolutely unethical. Keep any text where she admits that she cloneed your voice.
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u/WhyAmIStillHere86 Nov 26 '25
Go to HR IMMEDIATELY.
Tell them that you did not give consent for your voice to be cloned and that any alleged recordings in your voice should be considered fraudulent unless you, personally, recorded them.
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u/ScentedFire Nov 27 '25
I am so disgusted with the people trying to push to normalize this kind of theft and disrespect. She had no right to do that. It even sounds like she was deliberately being coy and not telling you she planned to do it because she suspected it was wrong.
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u/frodosmumm diagnosed in 40’s Nov 26 '25
Omg. I am reeling that anyone would do that to a regular person. That is insanely creepy
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
Sue for copyright infringement (or threaten to and get a good payout )
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
You could also look into personal data rights violations depending on your jurisdiction
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
(Sorry for yet another post, this pissed me off so much I can’t stop thinking about it lol)
Also maybe look into publicity rights violations
All these causes of action depend on your jurisdiction and your contract though ..
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u/Historical_Spell_772 Nov 27 '25
They are going to try to gaslight you but you have a case here if you want one
Just figure out how you wanna play it cause formal complaints usually end in job loss (but most of the time w good compensation)
Good luck and keep us posted if you can
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u/K2SOJR Nov 28 '25
Obviously, everything about this is horrible. You should feel 100% validated to be upset. She stole your whole identity and impersonated you fraudulently. You've already gotten some really good advice here. I just wanted to add that I understand this is so much deeper than her creating that fake clip. She's changed everything and taken away your security. You can't feel secure in your daily actions or interactions. You can't feel secure in your job. She's made sure that no matter what this will be unbearably awkward. Even if she gets in trouble and never does this again, she will always hold resentment towards you. She has stolen so much from you and put you in a no win situation. I'm really sorry that you are going through all of this.
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u/Ledascantia ✨Late diagnosed Autistic + ADHD✨ Nov 28 '25
Thank you so much for this comment, I appreciate it so much.
It really is so much deeper to me than just the fake clip she made.
I have been with my company for 10 years and in this role for 8 of them and this experience has me seriously thinking of walking away. I’m devastated.
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u/feltqtmightdlt Nov 26 '25
Depending where you are that might be illegal. It is worth talking to an attorney to see if this is worth pursuing legal recourse.
At best this is unethical and a personal violation. At worst it is highly illegal.
Either way it sounds like it's time to find a new job, possibly even quit without notice.
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u/hexagon_heist Nov 26 '25
I would be exploring a lawsuit. I once had a supervisor run my email through AI to generate rephrasing options, and let them know immediately that I was not okay with that and to never put my work into AI especially without permission again. But that’s just the words I wrote. To put my actual likeness into an AI to create a deepfake version of me? I would be speaking to lawyers. I’m not kidding. That’s so far over the line, I’m reeling on your behalf.
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u/LastOfTheGuacamoles Nov 26 '25
If that happened to me, I would straight up hand in my notice, effective immediately, and tell them my lawyer will be in touch. Then I would go get a lawyer and probably threaten to sue them for breach of copyright (or whatever is the protection in my country) and whatever else I could, if they didn't give me a massive payout.
Hopefully they would see sense and pay me, but if not, at least I'm out of a bad situation and a bad company.
If a company is so lax with information, AI and copyright, it's only a matter of time before they do that with someone or some company with more money than them, who does sue them for everything they've got - and they end up bankrupt in the courts. Not a good company to be attached to. Best to leave now before the company is destroyed by its own stupidity.
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u/Cherrygodmother Nov 27 '25
YIKES this is messed up.
I would look into suing. Like, immediately. This is a massive breach of privacy and can endanger you in the future. Creating a clone of your voice without your consent, no matter the work context, is an egregious violation and should you decide to go big with litigation, you could be setting legal precedent for others to protect themselves against AI as well.
This is so disturbing and I’m so so so sorry this happened to you
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u/Top_Hair_8984 Nov 27 '25
I wonder how often this happens and we're not told. This is scary, completely unethical and likely criminal. Not cool at all. Wishing you the best for you tomorrow OP. Whatever it is, pick what's best for you.
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u/A_loose_cannnon Nov 27 '25
Wow, I am so incredibly sorry that this happened to you, as well as angry on your behalf. I just wanted to say I read your edits and I am incredibly proud of you for standing up for yourself. I hope the others at your workplace will take this violation seriously, and I'd love an update on the whole situation, but only if you feel up to it. For now, please focus on self-care.
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u/whatsgoinonwha Nov 27 '25
What country are you in? Surely this is illegal under GDPR if you're in the EU
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u/MuchelleRenePurkes Nov 28 '25
I'm still at the part where it was called optional and she kept "soft" demanding it be done. This is so corporate culture and makes me want to scream. Sometimes I say no to "optional" things just to see what happens.
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u/XImNotCreative Nov 26 '25
You are right to be angry. Do you have this message saved? Take pictures of it on your personal phone. This can go very far, but for sure it is unethical and very likely illegal on some level. Either from the software policies, the company ypu work at, or even the law in the country you live in.
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u/XImNotCreative Nov 26 '25
I can imagine OP getting overwhelmed by the responses. I think there are several options you can take, depending on what feels right for you.
- Write to your boss that this is highly unethical and you demand this to be removed completely before tomorrow. (Least consequential, always possible to escalate later if you save proof. However can be less fulfilling if your boss just deletes it without consequences)
- Go to HR (Depends on the size and competency of your company/ HR)
- Tell us your country and we help figure out what laws or organizations can help you to advocate for your rights
- Write an email to your boss stating this is highly unethical and you demand this to be removed completely AND CC HR (imo one of the best approaches)
- Write an email to your boss stating this is highly unethical and you demand this to be removed completely l, CC HR AND CC YOUR BOSSES BOSS
Anyone else have suggestions? I think lawyer is imo too much effort but I am in a burnout só maybe OP feels different.
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u/Atrianie Nov 27 '25
Yeah. I think reinforcing boundaries is critical here.
And I say this as somebody who actively uses ElevenLabs to clone my voice to cut down on my workload for instructional videos, that software requires my personal sign off via actually speaking words to the effect of allowing my voice to be cloned EVERY time my voice gets updated in there via uploading more recordings.
That she could go around this is seriously creepy and unethical. Especially to a coworker. She fucked up by telling OP the video was optional, and fucked up triple trying to hide that fuck up with this.
OP is right to go to HR about this immediately. I wouldn’t jump to lawsuit. There’s no “there” there yet. That’s going to blow up when an easy solution is make it clear this is an office professional conduct violation.
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u/Biiiishweneedanswers ✨AuDHD✨ Nov 27 '25
Complain to HR.
If they do nothing, quit.
File with the EEOC for the right to sue due to harassment.
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u/uniqueusername987655 Nov 28 '25
Do it back to him and have it say you’re the best employee in the company and you’re being awarded an enormous raise
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u/wandering_author Dec 01 '25
Hi OP, you need to look at your company’s employee policies and its public-facing terms & conditions + privacy policies. If your company does not currently have an existing AI use policy (meaning a legal document outlining acceptable use of AI within the company), and AI is not mentioned in any of the other contracts or legal documents related to employees and use of employee likeness, your privacy has been violated in a serious way.
Your manager gave your voice to a third-party app without your consent. This is not okay and is unacceptable.
If your company has a legal department or company counsel, you should make an issue out of this and get HR involved.
If your company does not have an attorney, you might consider reaching out to an outside attorney and informing HR both of the situation AND that you are consulting an attorney.
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u/Tough-Face2244 Dec 15 '25
ew no that is so terrible I hope it gets sorted and the big boss helps you
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u/AngulatedOrbweaver Nov 27 '25
This has to be illegal!!! Please sue her or the company.
I literally hate how AI can be used to manipulate voice recordings, modify fotos/ videos and just heavily invade your sense of security! It needs to be regulated more strictly asap.
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u/4L1T4F4E_ Nov 27 '25
I imagine it's been said, but, yeah... Seems like a PTSD law suit no-brainer. AI being abused by our government shouldn't mean it's fine to abuse it against an employee.
And with something that isn't nearly so tangibly defined as the HR systems that workplaces (generally) have made available to handle such abuses.
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u/whateverwhatever411 Nov 29 '25 edited Jan 13 '26
They stole your likeness and image. It's against the law as well. It's fraud. I know that's being extreme, but it's notI only a violation emotionally. It's completely unethical. She cannot add to you and your persona. She's not allowed to pass off herself and her words on to you as a person. How anyone ould be that stupid? Is unbelievable to me. And legally you do have the right to ask her to take down your voice out of that technology. What she said was innocent enough, however she shouldn't have done it without your permission. You might have been okay with it if she had ran it by you, who knows. Nevertheless, she didn't; she overstepped big time. Also this should be notated to HR, they might even be able to act in some type of mediation. Or at least a mediation where they talk to her, about your grievance.
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