Denmark Pioneers Landmark Copyright Law to Combat AI-Generated Deepfakes

Denmark clamps down on deepfakes by letting people copyright their own features | TechCrunch

The Danish government is working to change copyright law to give its citizens the right to their own body, facial features, and voice. The landmark law is designed to strengthen protections against the creation and dissemination of deepfakes, reports The Guardian. Denmark's department of culture still needs to submit a proposal to amend current law, but the agency has already secured cross-party support. "In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI," Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Danish culture minister, told The Guardian. In the U.S., several states have passed deepfake laws, which are mainly tied to misuse during elections and nonconsensual sexually explicit content. Many of those laws are currently at risk as Congress weighs up a proposal in a new budget reconciliation bill that would strip states of their power to regulate AI for 10 years.

Denmark seeks to make it illegal to spread deepfake images, citing concern about misinformation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Denmark is taking steps toward enacting a ban on the use of "deepfake" imagery online, saying such digital manipulations can stir doubts about reality and foster misinformation. The government said in a statement published Thursday that a "broad cross section" of parties in parliament support greater protections against deepfakes and a planned bill is expected to make it illegal to share them or other digital imitations of personal characteristics. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was "high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants." Officials said Friday that the measures are believed to be among the most extensive steps yet taken by a government to combat misinformation through deepfakes, which refers to highly realistic but fabricated content created by artificial intelligence tools. Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do. Famous figures who have been depicted in deepfakes include Taylor Swift and Pope Francis. Authorities in different countries have taken varying approaches to tackling deepfakes, but they've mostly focused on sexually explicit images. U.S. President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in May that makes it illegal to knowingly publish or threaten to publish intimate images without a person's consent, including deepfakes. Last year, South Korea rolled out measures to curb deepfake porn, including harsher punishment and stepped up regulations for social media platforms. Supporters of the Danish idea say that as technology advances, it will soon be impossible for people online to distinguish between real and manipulated material. "Since images and videos also quickly become embedded in people's subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can create fundamental doubts about -- and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of -- what are genuine depictions of reality," an English translation of a ministry statement said. "The agreement is therefore intended to ensure the right to one's own body and voice." The proposal would still allow for "parodies and satire" -- though the ministry didn't specify how that would be determined. It said that the rules would only apply in Denmark, and violators wouldn't be subject to fines or imprisonment -- even if some "compensation" could be warranted. The ministry said that a proposal will be made to amend Danish law on the issue this summer with an aim toward passage late this year or in early 2026. Any changes must abide by the country's international obligations and European Union law, it said.

Landmark deepfake law aims to give Danish citizens legal control over their digital identity

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Denmark has proposed sweeping legislation to curb the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, positioning itself as a leader in European digital rights protection. The suggested amendment to Danish copyright law would grant individuals explicit ownership of their image, voice, and facial features - empowering them to demand the removal of unauthorized digital copies from online platforms. The move comes as deepfake technology grows more accessible and sophisticated. These digital forgeries convincingly replicate a person's appearance or voice, creating false impressions of actions or statements they never made. The consequences have been global, with high-profile targets like Taylor Swift and Pope Francis. Misuse of the technology has raised serious concerns about privacy, misinformation, and digital identity theft. Officials are calling the forthcoming law the first of its kind in Europe. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt told The Guardian that everyone has a fundamental right to control their own body, voice, and facial features - rights current legislation fails to protect against misuse by generative AI. "Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that," said Engel-Schmidt. This deepfake of Pope Francis was created using the generative AI tool Midjourney and subsequently posted on Reddit. Under the proposed legislation, individuals would have the legal right to demand the removal of any deepfake that uses their likeness or voice without consent. If platforms refuse to comply, they could face "severe fines," a measure aimed at holding tech companies accountable. The law would also protect artists from unauthorized digital imitations of their performances, allowing them to seek compensation if their work is misused. "It [is] high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants." - Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt The bill includes specific exceptions to protect freedom of expression - parodies and satire would remain legal, ensuring the law doesn't restrict legitimate creative or critical works. Engel-Schmidt emphasized that while Denmark supports free speech, the law must give individuals the power to decide whether someone can manipulate their identity with generative AI. The legislation has broad political backing, with nine out of ten members of parliament reportedly supporting the initiative. The Danish Culture Ministry plans to submit the proposal for consultation before the summer recess, with a formal introduction to parliament expected this fall. If passed, the law would not only set a national precedent but could also inspire similar measures across the European Union. Engel-Schmidt has indicated plans to use Denmark's upcoming EU presidency to push for a unified European strategy to combat AI abuse. "It was high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants," Engel-Schmidt said.

Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features

Amendment to law will strengthen protection against digital imitations of people's identities, government says The Danish government is to clamp down on the creation and dissemination of AI-generated deepfakes by changing copyright law to ensure that everybody has the right to their own body, facial features and voice. The Danish government said on Thursday it would strengthen protection against digital imitations of people's identities with what it believes to be the first law of its kind in Europe. Having secured broad cross-party agreement, the department of culture plans to submit a proposal to amend the current law for consultation before the summer recess and then submit the amendment in the autumn. It defines a deepfake as a very realistic digital representation of a person, including their appearance and voice. The Danish culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, said he hoped the bill before parliament would send an "unequivocal message" that everybody had the right to the way they looked and sounded. He told the Guardian: "In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI." He added: "Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that." The move, which is believed to have the backing of nine in 10 MPs, comes amid rapidly developing AI technology that has made it easier than ever to create a convincing fake image, video or sound to mimic the features of another person. The changes to Danish copyright law will, once approved, theoretically give people in Denmark the right to demand that online platforms remove such content if it is shared without consent. It will also cover "realistic, digitally generated imitations" of an artist's performance without consent. Violation of the proposed rules could result in compensation for those affected. The government said the new rules would not affect parodies and satire, which would still be permitted. "Of course this is new ground we are breaking, and if the platforms are not complying with that, we are willing to take additional steps," said Engel-Schmidt. Other European countries, he hopes, will follow Denmark's lead. He plans to use Denmark's forthcoming EU presidency to share its plans with his European counterparts. If tech platforms do not respond accordingly to the new law, they could be subject to "severe fines", he said, and it could become a matter for the European Commission. "That is why I believe the tech platforms will take this very seriously indeed," he added.

Denmark Gives People Copyright Over Their Own Faces to Fight Deepfakes

Denmark will give people copyright over their own faces and voices in a bid to fight the rise of AI-generated deepfakes. On Thursday, the Danish government announced plans to strengthen protections against digital impersonation, in what it says is the first law of its kind in Europe, according to a report by The Guardian. Denmark intends to amend its copyright law to give individuals ownership rights over their own body, facial features, and voice. The proposed changes would allow people to request the removal of AI-generated content that uses their likeness without consent and seek compensation. The government says the aim is to stop the spread of AI-generated deepfakes by legally recognizing a person's right to control how their image and voice are used. According to The Guardian, Denmark defines a deepfake as a highly realistic digital representation of a person, including their appearance and voice. "In the bill, we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice, and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI," the Danish culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt tells The Guardian. "Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that." The government says the amended copyright laws will send an "unequivocal message" to AI companies and will give Danish people the right to demand that online platforms remove deepfakes if they are shared without consent. "Of course, this is new ground we are breaking, and if the platforms are not complying with that, we are willing to take additional steps," Engel-Schmidt tells the news outlet. The Danish culture minister says that tech platforms that don't follow the new rules could be heavily fined, and the issue might be brought to the European Commission. He plans to share Denmark's approach with other EU countries when Denmark takes over the EU presidency, hoping more nations will adopt similar laws. Engel-Schmidt also said the amended law will not apply to parody or satire, which will still be allowed.

Danes Could Get Copyright to Their Own Image Under AI Bill

Millions of Danes could soon hold copyright control over their own image, facial features, and voice under an amendment the country is considering to combat AI deepfakes. The Danish government revealed Thursday that a broad coalition of legislators are working on a bill that would make deepfakes illegal to share and put legal protections in place to prevent AI material depicting a person from being disseminated without their consent. "In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI," Danish culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, told The Guardian.

Which European countries have laws against deepfakes?

People in Denmark will soon have the copyright to their own likenesses as a way to fight against deepfakes. What other countries have laws that govern the use of fake or AI-generated videos? Denmark will give people copyright over their own likenesses as a way to fight back against generated "deepfake" videos, as countries around the world grapple with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI). In a statement, the Danish government said the bill, which has been agreed upon by all major parties, will make it illegal to share deepfakes and other "digital imitations" of a person's characteristics. "We are now sending an unequivocal signal to all citizens that you have the right to your own body, your own voice and your own facial features," Denmark's culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said in a statement. Deepfakes are videos or other online content generated by AI that alter a person, often in a way to spread false information or to embarrass them. "Technology is developing rapidly, and in the future it will be even more difficult to distinguish reality from fiction in the digital world," Engel-Schmidt said, adding that the new law will be a "safeguard against misinformation" and will also "send a clear signal to the tech giants". Denmark is not the only country tackling deepfakes through new laws. Here's where else in Europe is taking action. The EU's AI Act classifies anything created by generative AI in one of four categories: minimal risk, limited risk, high-risk, and unacceptable risk. Deepfakes are considered "limited risk" and are therefore subject to some transparency rules. That means there is no outright ban on deepfakes, but it forces companies to label AI-generated content on their platforms by putting watermarks on the videos, and to disclose which training sets are being used to develop their models. If an AI company is found in breach of transparency rules, it could face a fine of up to €15 million or 3 per cent of its global turnover from the past year. That fine goes up to €35 million or 7 per cent of global turnover for banned practices. Another article of the AI Act also bans manipulative AI, which could include systems that use subliminal or deceptive techniques to "impair informed decision-making". Some legal action focuses on pornography and other sexual content. For example, the EU's directive on violence against women criminalises the "non-consensual production, manipulation or altering... of material that makes it appear as though a person is engaged in sexual activities". The directive includes the production of deepfakes or any materials created using AI. It doesn't specify what the penalty should be if an individual or company is found in violation of the directive, leaving it up to each EU member state to decide. EU member states have until June 2027 to implement the rule. In 2024, France passed an update to its criminal code to prohibit people from sharing any AI-created visual or audio content, such as deepfakes, without the consent of the person portrayed in it. Any reshared content must be clearly disclosed as AI-generated. Distributors of these videos or audio could face up to a year in prison and a €15,000 fine; the penalty goes up to two years in prison and a €45,000 fine if the deepfake is shared through an "online service". The changes to the criminal code also include a specific ban on pornographic deepfakes - even if it has clear markings that indicate it is fake. Anyone caught distributing this content in France could face up to three years in prison and a €75,000 fine. The law also gives Arcom, France's audiovisual regulator, the power to force platforms to remove illicit content and improve their reporting systems. The UK has several laws that deal with the creation of deepfake pornography, including the recent amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The law targets "heinous abusers" that create fake images for "sexual gratification or to cause alarm, distress or humiliation". Violators could face an "unlimited fine". Another recent addition is a possible two-year prison sentence under the UK's Sexual Offenses Act for those who create sexual deepfakes. The UK's Online Safety Act makes it illegal to share or threaten to share non-consensual sexual images on social media. The act will also force platforms to "take steps to proactively remove this material" and prevent it from appearing in the first place. If they breach the law, companies could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their worldwide revenue from UK internet regulator Ofcom. However, Julia Hörnle, a professor at the Queen Mary University School of Law, said the Online Safety Act doesn't outright make the creation of deepfake images illegal, which "leaves victims vulnerable to harm even if the content is never shared publicly". She said the UK government should also address the "availability" of AI tools to create deepfakes by finding a way to criminalise "the development, distribution, and promotion of these tools".

Danish government seeks to make spread of deepfake images illegal

Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do. Denmark is taking steps toward enacting a ban on the use of "deepfake" images online, saying such digital manipulation can stir doubts about reality and foster misinformation. The government said in a statement published on Thursday that a "broad cross section" of parties in parliament support greater protections against deepfakes and a planned bill is expected to make it illegal to share them or other digital imitations of personal characteristics. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was "high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants." Officials said the measures are believed to be among the most extensive steps yet taken by a government to combat misinformation through deepfakes, which refers to highly realistic but fabricated content created by artificial intelligence tools. Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do. Famous figures who have been depicted in deepfakes include Taylor Swift and Pope Francis. Authorities in different countries have taken varying approaches to tackling deepfakes, but they've mostly focused on sexually explicit images. US President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in May that makes it illegal to knowingly publish or threaten to publish intimate images without a person's consent, including deepfakes. Last year, South Korea rolled out measures to curb deepfake porn, including harsher punishment and stepped up regulations for social media platforms. Supporters of the Danish idea say that as technology advances, it will soon be impossible for people online to distinguish between real and manipulated material. "Since images and videos also quickly become embedded in people's subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can create fundamental doubts about -- and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of -- what are genuine depictions of reality," an English translation of a ministry statement said. "The agreement is therefore intended to ensure the right to one's own body and voice." The proposal would still allow for "parodies and satire," though the ministry didn't specify how that would be determined. It said that the rules would only apply in Denmark and violators wouldn't be subject to fines or imprisonment, even if some "compensation" could be warranted. The ministry said that a proposal will be made to amend Danish law on the issue this summer with an aim toward passage late this year or in early 2026. Any changes must abide by the country's international obligations and European Union law, it said.

Denmark to introduce law giving individuals automatic copyright over their own likeness in effort to tackle AI and deepfakes

"Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that." Sometimes a law comes into conversation that seems so simple and obvious you might have assumed it already existed. That's how I felt when reading The Guardian talk about Denmark's new strategy to help tackle AI imitations such as deepfakes. Rather than go after the AI creators in this case, Denmark is making what feels like a very prudent decision. It's changing copyright law, so that everyone simply owns their own likeness by default. This includes their body, face, and even voice - all of which I'd been calling mine anyway, without any apparent legal claim over them. The decision was announced on Thursday as part of Denmark's plan to help protect individuals against having their identities stolen by AI. It seems that the EU is taking a rather different approach to the US when it comes to individuals as opposed to the market. Despite how logical it seems, it's thought to be the first to offer this kind of intrinsic ownership and protection in the EU. "In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI." Danish culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, told the Guardian, adding "Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that." With the speedy rise of AI, suddenly people all over the world have a new set of powerful tools at their disposal. Unfortunately, a lot of these tools have put their work into stealing things from others, be it art, writing, or even their whole face. Suddenly people can create realistic videos of others saying and doing whatever they want, and the law has been scrambling to catch up to this tech. A blanket and simple law like this feels like a smart answer to give some power back to the individuals in all the very likely lawsuits to come. "Of course this is new ground we are breaking, and if the platforms are not complying with that, we are willing to take additional steps," said Engel-Schmidt. Notably the law has no inclination to stand against parody or satire. The Danish government appears to be targeting things like slander and misinformation instead. This might get a bit murky as AI continues to grow, but hopefully the spirit of the law will remain strong for the intended purposes. The move has cross-part agreement from the Danish government with nine out of 10 MPs behind the change. Thanks to the support the department of culture is readying a proposal to amend the law which will hopefully go ahead in Autumn. Denmark hopes that other countries in the EU will follow suit and introduce its own similar laws. It plans to use its upcoming stint as president of the EU to help encourage others to start implementing their own protections for individuals and their ownership over their appearance and voice.

Denmark wants you to copyright yourself. It might be the only way to stop deepfakes

"Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that," Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt recently told The Guardian after Denmark introduced an amendment to its copyright legislation so people could own their own likeness. "In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice, and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI." The Danish culture minister is right. We need to stop this problem decisively. Deepfakes are a serious problem -- one that is fundamentally altering our perception of reality. People are getting bullied, coerced into doing things against their will, and even framed for crimes they didn't commit. Stopping the software will not work. That ship sailed a long time ago. And normal people don't have the resources to fight in court for a deepfake to be taken down. The answer, like the Danish government has done, is to include personal likeness in copyright law. The proposal establishes legal definitions for unauthorized digital reproductions, specifically targeting "very realistic digital representation of a person, including their appearance and voice." The Danish administration intends to introduce the legislative proposal for public input ahead of the summer parliamentary break, with formal submission planned for autumn. Under the revised copyright framework, Danish citizens would gain legal authority to request removal of nonconsensual deepfake content from digital platforms. The legislation extends protection to cover unauthorized artificial recreations of artistic performances, with potential financial remedies for victims. Creative works such as parody and satirical content remain exempt from these restrictions.

Denmark seeks to make it illegal to spread deepfake images, citing concern about misinformation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Denmark is taking steps toward enacting a ban on the use of "deepfake" imagery online, saying such digital manipulations can stir doubts about reality and foster misinformation. The government said in a statement published Thursday that a "broad cross section" of parties in parliament support greater protections against deepfakes and a planned bill is expected to make it illegal to share them or other digital imitations of personal characteristics. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was "high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants." Officials said Friday that the measures are believed to be among the most extensive steps yet taken by a government to combat misinformation through deepfakes, which refers to highly realistic but fabricated content created by artificial intelligence tools. Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do. Famous figures who have been depicted in deepfakes include Taylor Swift and Pope Francis. Authorities in different countries have taken varying approaches to tackling deepfakes, but they've mostly focused on sexually explicit images. U.S. President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in May that makes it illegal to knowingly publish or threaten to publish intimate images without a person's consent, including deepfakes. Last year, South Korea rolled out measures to curb deepfake porn, including harsher punishment and stepped up regulations for social media platforms. Supporters of the Danish idea say that as technology advances, it will soon be impossible for people online to distinguish between real and manipulated material. "Since images and videos also quickly become embedded in people's subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can create fundamental doubts about -- and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of -- what are genuine depictions of reality," an English translation of a ministry statement said. "The agreement is therefore intended to ensure the right to one's own body and voice." The proposal would still allow for "parodies and satire" -- though the ministry didn't specify how that would be determined. It said that the rules would only apply in Denmark, and violators wouldn't be subject to fines or imprisonment -- even if some "compensation" could be warranted. The ministry said that a proposal will be made to amend Danish law on the issue this summer with an aim toward passage late this year or in early 2026. Any changes must abide by the country's international obligations and European Union law, it said.

Denmark seeks to make it illegal to spread deepfake images, citing concern about misinformation - The Economic Times

Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was "high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants."Denmark is taking steps toward enacting a ban on the use of "deepfake" imagery online, saying such digital manipulations can stir doubts about reality and foster misinformation. The government said in a statement published Thursday that a "broad cross section" of parties in parliament support greater protections against deepfakes and a planned bill is expected to make it illegal to share them or other digital imitations of personal characteristics. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was "high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants." Officials said the measures are believed to be among the most extensive steps yet taken by a government to combat misinformation through deepfakes, which refers to highly realistic but fabricated content created by artificial intelligence tools. Deepfakes usually come in the form of pictures or video but can also be audio. They can make it appear that someone said or did something that they didn't actually say or do. Famous figures who have been depicted in deepfakes include Taylor Swift and Pope Francis. Authorities in different countries have taken varying approaches to tackling deepfakes, but they've mostly focused on sexually explicit images. US President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in May that makes it illegal to knowingly publish or threaten to publish intimate images without a person's consent, including deepfakes. Last year, South Korea rolled out measures to curb deepfake porn, including harsher punishment and stepped up regulations for social media platforms. Supporters of the Danish idea say that as technology advances, it will soon be impossible for people online to distinguish between real and manipulated material. "Since images and videos also quickly become embedded in people's subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can create fundamental doubts about - and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of - what are genuine depictions of reality," an English translation of a ministry statement said. "The agreement is therefore intended to ensure the right to one's own body and voice." The proposal would still allow for "parodies and satire" - though the ministry didn't specify how that would be determined. It said that the rules would only apply in Denmark, and violators wouldn't be subject to fines or imprisonment - even if some "compensation" could be warranted. The ministry said that a proposal will be made to amend Danish law on the issue this summer with an aim toward passage late this year or in early 2026. Any changes must abide by the country's international obligations and European Union law, it said.