Denmark is set to make a landmark change in copyright law by granting its citizens explicit rights over their body, voice, and facial features in response to the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI). The move, supported by all major political parties, is aimed at prohibiting deepfakes and other “digital imitations” that replicate an individual’s traits without consent. Danish culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmid stressed that the bill sends a clear message that everyone has ownership of their identity, something current laws fail to safeguard against generative AI. He warned that human beings should not be treated like digital copies open to exploitation for harmful purposes.
Denmark Targets Deepfake Abuse with Tougher Laws and Penalties
The proposed legislation will also cover realistic, digitally generated imitations of artists’ work, ensuring creators have legal protection against unauthorized reproduction. Violations could lead to financial compensation for victims, while technology platforms that fail to comply risk severe fines and possible escalation to the European Commission. Engel-Schmid acknowledged that Denmark is breaking new ground but emphasized that authorities are prepared to take further steps if platforms resist enforcement.
Deepfakes, created through deep learning and generative adversarial networks (GANs), can manipulate images, audio, or video to depict actions or statements never made. While some deepfakes are used for humour or entertainment, their abuse has sparked global concern. For example, in Wisconsin, a man was arrested for possessing more than 13,000 child sexual abuse-related deepfake images and faces up to 70 years in prison. Similarly, two middle school students in Florida were detained for creating nude deepfakes of classmates.
Celebrities Hit by Deepfakes as U.S. Enacts Take It Down Act
Celebrities have also been targeted. Jenna Ortega was victimized by a deepfake nude app that advertised on Meta’s platforms, while Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks had their images misused in unauthorized ads. Governments worldwide are now seeking stronger regulations. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act, requiring websites and social media platforms to remove deepfake content within 48 hours of victim notification. However, unlike Denmark’s approach, the U.S. law primarily addresses the distribution of harmful deepfakes but does not regulate the tools used to create them.
Summary:
Denmark plans a landmark copyright law granting citizens rights over their body, voice, and facial features to combat AI-driven deepfakes. The bill bans digital imitations, ensures artist protection, and penalizes non-compliant platforms. Rising global misuse, including crimes and celebrity targeting, has intensified calls for stronger regulations, contrasting Denmark’s proactive approach.
