Spain's cabinet approved a draft law to restrict and criminalize non‑consensual AI‑generated images and voice likenesses, establishing 16 as the minimum age for consent. The measure aligns Madrid with upcoming EU requirements aimed at curbing sexual deepfakes and reducing AI misuse for fraud, coercion and reputational harm.

The Spanish cabinet approved a draft bill tightening consent rules for image and voice likenesses generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence, including proposals to criminalize non‑consensual sexual deepfakes and similar intimate‑image abuses. The legislation sets 16 as the minimum age at which individuals can consent to the use of their image or voice in AI outputs and seeks to create clearer criminal and civil pathways to address harms such as revenge porn, impersonation and fraud. Spanish officials framed the bill as part of broader EU efforts to regulate harmful AI applications and to align domestic law with forthcoming EU measures targeting non‑consensual sexual deepfakes. The draft includes obligations for platforms to remove illicit content, potential penalties for creators and distributors of manipulated intimate imagery, and mechanisms for victims to seek rapid takedown and redress. Lawmakers and civil‑society groups signaled ongoing debates over enforcement scope, free expression implications and technical feasibility, while proponents stressed the need for robust protections against emergent AI‑enabled harms.