Denmark Plans Law to Shield Citizens from Deepfakes
- Proposed copyright reform aims to protect personal likeness online
In 2021, Danish live-streamer Marie Watson discovered a manipulated image of herself circulating online. The photo, taken from her Instagram account, had been digitally altered to remove her clothing, leaving her shocked and distressed. Her experience illustrates the growing threat posed by deepfakes, highly realistic AI-generated images, videos, or audio that can imitate real people. Advances in generative AI tools from companies like OpenAI and Google have made such content easier to produce and more convincing than ever.
Proposed Legal Protections
Denmark is preparing legislation to give citizens stronger rights over their own likeness. The bill, expected to pass early next year, would amend copyright law to ban the sharing of deepfakes without consent. If enacted, individuals would gain copyright over their appearance and voice, enabling them to demand removal of unauthorized content from online platforms. Exceptions would remain for satire and parody, though how these will be defined is still unclear.
Privacy experts say the proposal represents one of the most comprehensive government efforts to address misinformation through deepfakes. Henry Ajder, founder of Latent Space Advisory, praised the initiative, noting that current laws leave victims with few options. He emphasized that deepfakes challenge traditional notions of identity and dignity. Without new protections, individuals remain vulnerable to exploitation and harassment.
Global Context and Democratic Concerns
Other countries have already taken steps to regulate deepfakes. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation banning the publication of intimate images without consent, including AI-generated ones. South Korea introduced stricter penalties last year to curb deepfake pornography and increased oversight of social media platforms. Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt argued that unchecked deepfakes could undermine democracy by spreading false depictions of politicians and public figures.
The proposed law would apply only within Denmark but could impose significant fines on platforms that fail to remove harmful content. Engel-Schmidt said the bill has broad political support and has attracted interest from other EU members, including France and Ireland. Intellectual property lawyer Jakob Plesner Mathiasen noted that the initiative reflects the widespread impact of deepfakes on everyday life, from fake news to manipulated celebrity images. The Danish Rights Alliance also supports the bill, citing gaps in current copyright protections.
Industry Response and Public Pressure
Platforms such as YouTube have developed systems to balance copyright enforcement with creative freedom, but others like TikTok and Meta have not commented on Denmark’s proposal. Voice actor David Bateson, known for his work in the “Hitman” video game and Lego advertisements, has struggled to address unauthorized AI voice clones shared online. Advocates argue that clearer regulations are needed to compel platforms to act. Victims like Watson believe stronger measures must be taken to prevent harmful content from spreading unchecked.
Deepfake generators are widely available online, often requiring little technical skill to use. A simple search can reveal dozens of websites offering tools to create manipulated images or videos, highlighting how accessible the technology has become. This ease of use is one reason governments worldwide are accelerating efforts to regulate AI-generated content.
