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This article critically examines the existing European legal frameworks addressing the challenges posed by deepfake technology. It highlights the significant risks associated with deepfakes, including misinformation, infringements on personal image rights, privacy violations, and threats to democratic processes. Central to the analysis is the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), set to come into force in August 2025, which introduces the first binding legal definition and regulatory obligations for high-risk AI applications, including deepfakes. The article also considers complementary instruments such as the GDPR, the Digital Services Act, and relevant national legislation within Member States like Germany and France. Despite these regulatory advances, structural gaps remain—particularly in enforcement mechanisms and the inclusion of end-users—that hinder comprehensive governance. The article underscores the necessity for a multifaceted, coordinated approach combining harmonized enforcement, technological oversight, public awareness, and evolving legal measures to effectively regulate synthetic media technologies within the European legal order.