German voice actors have launched a grassroots boycott against Netflix over concerns that the streaming giant could use their recordings to train AI systems, Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, the boycott stems from a new contract clause introduced by Netflix at the start of the year. The provision allows the company to use voice recordings for AI training purposes, but does not specify whether performers would receive additional compensation.
The move has sparked backlash among members of the VDS voice actors’ association, which represents around 600 performers. A large majority of voice actors have refused to sign the updated contracts, VDS chairperson Anna-Sophia Lumpe told Reuters.
The dispute highlights growing anxiety across the entertainment industry about how AI could reshape creative professions. Dubbing has become increasingly important for Netflix as its global audience expands, with international hits such as South Korea’s “Squid Game” and Spain’s “Money Heist” drawing viewers far beyond their home markets. German-language dubbing is a key part of that strategy.
Lumpe said Netflix recently sent a letter to voice actors arguing that their concerns were based on a misunderstanding of how the recordings would be used. The company also invited VDS representatives to informal discussions. She added that Netflix warned that if actors continued to boycott, some content might be shown in Germany with subtitles instead of dubbed audio.
A Netflix spokesperson confirmed the existence of the letter and said the company takes the concerns seriously, Reuters reported.
The VDS has commissioned a law firm to examine the contracts in relation to data privacy, copyright law and the EU AI Act. While Netflix previously reached an agreement with the BFFS actors’ union requiring explicit written consent for AI-generated digital voice replicas, the union acknowledged it had not yet established remuneration rules for AI-related uses.
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