The EU has taken a proactive approach to deepfake regulation, calling for increased research into deepfake detection and prevention, as well as regulations that would require clear labeling of artificially generated content. The most relevant European deepfake policy trajectories and regulatory frameworks are:

• The AI regulatory framework

• The General Data Protection Regulation

• Copyright regime

• e-Commerce Directive

• Digital services act

• Audio Visual Media Directive

• Code of Practice on Disinformation

• Action plan on disinformation

• Democracy action plan

The EU has proposed laws requiring social media companies to remove deepfakes and other disinformation from their platforms. Updated in June 2022, the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation addresses deepfakes through fines of up to 6 percent of global revenue for violators. The code was initially introduced as a voluntary self-regulatory instrument in 2018 but now has the backing of the Digital Services Act. The Digital Services Act, which came into force in November 2022, increases the monitoring of digital platforms for various kinds of misuse. Under the proposed EU AI Act, deepfake providers would be subject to transparency and disclosure requirements.