AI something to think about

[Robert Lewis]

Denmark out in front - no surprise.

I wonder if we'll ever get there

 

Denmark is indeed pioneering a legislative approach to combat AI-generated deepfakes by proposing amendments to its copyright law. The initiative, announced in late June 2025, aims to grant Danish citizens legal ownership over their facial features, voice, and physical likeness, effectively treating these personal attributes as copyrightable elements. This would allow individuals to demand the removal of unauthorized deepfake content—highly realistic digital manipulations created using AI—posted without their consent and potentially seek compensation for damages. The law also includes protections for performing artists against unauthorized digital imitations of their work. 

The Danish Culture Minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, has emphasized that current legislation is inadequate to protect individuals from digital identity misuse, stating, “We are sending an unequivocal message: every individual has the right to their own body, voice, and facial features.” The proposed law, which has broad support from approximately 90% of Danish parliament members, does not outright ban deepfakes but focuses on empowering citizens to control their likeness. Exceptions are made for parody and satire to preserve freedom of expression. The legislation is expected to be open for public consultation before the summer recess and formally submitted to parliament in autumn 2025, with a potential implementation timeline extending into early 2026.

This move is considered a first-of-its-kind in Europe, though other countries like France have implemented laws targeting specific deepfake issues, such as non-consensual pornographic content. Denmark’s approach frames deepfake misuse as a copyright violation, shifting the focus from reactive content moderation to proactive ownership rights. The initiative could influence global AI regulations, with Denmark advocating for similar protections across the European Union.