Tackling the Ethical and Legal Challenges of Digital Avatars: Bringing the “Dead” Back to Life

Dennis Hillemann
7 min readFeb 15, 2023

Digital avatars are rapidly becoming a major part of our lives, both in terms of their technological capabilities and the ethical and legal questions they raise. They are not just computer programs or figures, but also a way to create a digital replication or “second life” for someone who has passed away. In this blog post, we will explore what a digital avatar is, the ethical and legal implications posed by their use, and the potential benefits of digital avatars. We will then look at the steps that should be taken in order to address the ethical and legal challenges posed by digital avatars. Finally, we will summarize the main issues, and provide recommendations for further research.

Introduction: What is a Digital Avatar?

Before we delve into the legal and ethical considerations of Digital avatars, it is important to have an understanding of the f

undamentals of how they work, especially when AI is involved.
Digital avatars, which are replicas of a person generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, have been gaining traction in the world of marketing, e-commerce and customer service. The technology behind AI avatars is advanced and intricate, combining Machine Learning, IoT, and other areas. AI…

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Dennis Hillemann
Dennis Hillemann

Written by Dennis Hillemann

Lawyer and partner with a track record of successful litigation and a passion for innovation in the legal field