Denmark Moves to Protect Personal Identity from Deepfakes with New Copyright Law

Denmark is taking a bold step towards protecting its citizens' personal identities from the threat of deepfakes. The country plans to amend its copyright law to give individuals rights over their body, face, and voice, in a move believed to be the first of its kind in Europe.

The proposed law aims to combat the rapid rise of AI tools that make it easy to create convincing fake images, videos, or audio. With support from around 90% of MPs, the bill has broad political backing and will be submitted for consultation before summer, with a formal amendment expected in the autumn.

The Need for Protection

According to Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, current laws do not adequately protect people from being exploited by generative AI. "People can be digitally copied and misused in countless ways, and I won’t accept that," he told The Guardian.

The Impact of Deepfakes

Deepfakes have the potential to cause significant harm to individuals, with realistic AI-generated imitations of artists' performances without consent becoming a serious concern. The new law would ban such imitations and provide compensation for victims.

Moreover, the rise of deepfakes has raised questions about the authenticity of digital content on social media platforms. The proposed law would allow Danish citizens to demand the removal of deepfake content from these platforms if shared without their consent.

The Exemption for Parody and Satire

It's worth noting that parody and satire will not be impacted by the law bill and will remain protected. This ensures that creative expressions can continue to thrive while maintaining the rights of individuals against deepfakes.

A Global Push?

Culture Minister Engel-Schmidt warned of severe fines for non-compliant platforms and plans to push the initiative across the EU during Denmark's upcoming EU presidency. This move suggests that Denmark is not only taking steps to protect its citizens but also looking to set a global precedent.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, it's essential to have robust laws in place to safeguard our personal identities. The Danish government's move towards protecting against deepfakes is a step in the right direction, and we can only hope that other countries will follow suit.