In February 2026, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and over 60 global authorities issued a joint statement demanding stricter safeguards against non-consensual AI-generated deepfakes. This unified response follows a major scandal involving Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, which allowed users to generate explicit images of millions of women and minors. Regulators are calling on developers to implement “fundamental principles,” including proactive misuse prevention, rapid content removal, and enhanced protections for children. While the EU is currently re-examining its landmark GDPR and AI Act through the proposed “Digital Omnibus,” some MEPs are pushing to have non-consensual deepfakes formally classified as an illegal use of technology.
Date: February 23, 2026. Source: euobserver.com