Spain approves right‑to‑honor law targeting deepfakes and minors' image use

The Spanish cabinet approved on Tuesday a revised right‑to‑honor, privacy and image law, replacing the 1982 framework to address digital‑media challenges. The bill, part of the government's democratic regeneration plan, will be sent to the Congress for further debate.

Key provisions include a ban on the commercial or advertising use of AI‑generated voices or images without the subject's consent, with a presumption of maturity for consent set at age 16. The law also strengthens protection for minors, deeming any use that harms a child's dignity or reputation an illegal intrusion. Exceptions are made for works of fiction, satire, artistic expression, and for the dissemination of private communications that are of genuine public interest.

Additional measures expand rights for victims of true‑crime productions and grant post‑mortem control over a person's image or voice, allowing individuals to forbid such uses through a will or designated representative. The legislation aims to provide clearer criteria for moral damages and faster procedural resolutions.