German Voice Actor Plans Lawsuit Against Netflix Over Unauthorized AI Training Use of His Voice
German voice actor Matti Klemm announced plans to sue Netflix, alleging the company used his voice recordings to train AI systems without his consent.
According to n-tv, German voice actor Matti Klemm, who provides the German dubbing for US actors Jason Momoa and Mahershala Ali, plans to file a lawsuit against Netflix. The announcement was made on November 3, 2026, by the Association of German Voice Actors (VDS), of which Klemm is a member.
The core allegation is that Netflix violated Klemm's personality rights, copyright, and data protection laws. Reports indicate that after requesting data disclosure from Netflix, Klemm learned that the company had previously used his personal voice recordings to train AI systems without seeking his prior consent or paying him.
Netflix responded by stating it takes the discussions seriously and pointed to an agreement reached last year with the Federal Association of Actors (BFFS) to strengthen protections for voice actors. Netflix asserted that its use of AI complies with current law and requires explicit, separate consent for using AI-generated voice clones. The company did not immediately comment on Klemm's planned lawsuit.
Anna-Sophia Lumpe, head of the VDS, noted that this is not an isolated case, claiming many large corporations have used copyrighted works and personal data to train their AI systems for years without asking the individuals involved. The Society for Civil Rights (GFF) supports the lawsuit, which is expected to be formally filed by the end of 2026.