In a groundbreaking step against AI-generated deepfakes’ misuse, Denmark is drafting a law to amend the copyright law to provide its citizens protection for their own body, face, and voice. The amendment has already attracted cross-party political support and will be tabled in Parliament by the Ministry of Culture soon.
The initiative comes amid intensifying debate about how generative AI facilitates the quick production of convincing but artificial videos, images, and audio, used extensively to impersonate people without their knowledge. The government of Denmark aims to enhance legal safeguards, allowing individuals to take back ownership of their image in the digital world.
“Everybody Has the Right to Their Own Body and Voice”
Denmark’s Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt underscored the need for the legal update.
“In the bill, we are affirming and are sending a clear message that everyone is entitled to their own body, their voice, and their facial appearance, and that is not what the law at the moment is safeguarding against generative AI,” he explained to The Guardian.
“Human beings can be fed into the digital photocopier and be abused for all kinds of purposes, and I’m not going to accept that.”
If enacted, this law will enable Danish citizens to request the erasure of deepfake material posted without their permission from online sites. Significantly, the bill carves out exceptions for parody and satire, which will still be shielded under free speech protections.
Worldwide, vastness increases since lawmakers take a closer look
The debate over deepfakes has gained global attention. In New Zealand, MP Laura McClure brought the issue to the floor of Parliament by displaying a censored AI-generated nude image of herself, created in under five minutes.
“The problem isn’t the tech itself, but how it’s being misused to abuse people. Our laws need to catch up,” McClure posted on Instagram.
She is now fighting to bring existing legislation prohibiting non-consensual nude photo sharing up to date to cover AI-created deepfakes.
As governments worldwide struggle to catch up with technological exploitation, Denmark’s move has the potential to establish an influential precedent for digital rights to identity during the era of AI.