Stibbe Talks - February, 10, 2026 (2)

AI, deepfakes & copyright: where do we draw the line?

An Instagram post recently had the internet believing that FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal was going to become a father. The image looked convincing, but turned out to be entirely AI generated. At the same time, another photo, showing a young Lionel Messi holding Lamine Yamal as a baby, seemed almost too good to be true. Yet that photo was real: it was taken in 2007 during a UNICEF photoshoot.

Two images. One real, one fake. The line between fact and fiction is becoming increasingly blurred.

In a world where AI can create lifelike images, voices and videos in an instant, an increasingly important question arises: what can actually be done with someone’s face, voice or identity? When is an AI generated image harmless satire, and when does it cross the line? And what role do privacy, copyright and the EU AI Act play?

During Stibbe Talks on 11 November, our colleagues will explore what is possible and what is legally permitted, using current examples. From deepfakes and privacy to parody and infringement: where do we draw the line?

Would you like to get to know Stibbe and learn more about this timely topic? Register by 3 November via werkenbijstibbe.nl!

An Instagram post recently had the internet believing that FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal was going to become a father. The image looked convincing, but turned out to be entirely AI generated. At the same time, another photo, showing a young Lionel Messi holding Lamine Yamal as a baby, seemed almost too good to be true. Yet that photo was real: it was taken in 2007 during a UNICEF photoshoot.

Two images. One real, one fake. The line between fact and fiction is becoming increasingly blurred.

In a world where AI can create lifelike images, voices and videos in an instant, an increasingly important question arises: what can actually be done with someone’s face, voice or identity? When is an AI generated image harmless satire, and when does it cross the line? And what role do privacy, copyright and the EU AI Act play?

During Stibbe Talks on 11 November, our colleagues will explore what is possible and what is legally permitted, using current examples. From deepfakes and privacy to parody and infringement: where do we draw the line?

Would you like to get to know Stibbe and learn more about this timely topic? Register by 3 November via werkenbijstibbe.nl!