In an era where deepfake technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, Denmark is taking bold steps to safeguard personal identities through a novel expansion of copyright law.
Denmark Sets New Precedent for Deepfake Regulation in Copyright Law

Denmark Sets New Precedent for Deepfake Regulation in Copyright Law
Denmark's proposed bill aims to empower citizens with rights over their likenesses in the face of advancing deepfake technology.
The Danish government is pushing forward with a legislative initiative aimed at protecting its citizens from the growing threat of deepfakes—highly realistic digital forgeries created using advanced AI technology. The proposed bill allows individuals to request the removal of unauthorized representations of themselves across social media platforms, giving them greater control over their digital identities.
As technology evolves rapidly, Denmark's Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt emphasized the need for updated legislation. He noted, “Technology has outpaced our current legislation,” highlighting the significant gap between technological advancements and existing legal frameworks. The current focus of laws aims to mitigate harms typically through criminal codes, but the new bill would shift the approach to amend copyright law, making it illegal to share deepfake materials of others without consent.
This legislation comes amidst a global concern surrounding the misuse of deepfake technology, which can facilitate nonconsensual pornography, fraud, and misinformation campaigns. While it has legitimate applications in various industries, the darker side poses significant threats to privacy and personal integrity.
Supporters of the bill hope that Denmark's proactive stance could serve as a benchmark for other nations, particularly within the European Union, where the country is currently holding the presidency. As potential implications ripple throughout Europe, this initiative could catalyze similar policies, aiming to better protect citizens against the ramifications of digital manipulation.
In essence, Denmark's pioneering approach not only seeks to safeguard individual rights in the digital realm but also raises important questions about the intersection of technology and legislative action in protecting privacy in modern society.
As technology evolves rapidly, Denmark's Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt emphasized the need for updated legislation. He noted, “Technology has outpaced our current legislation,” highlighting the significant gap between technological advancements and existing legal frameworks. The current focus of laws aims to mitigate harms typically through criminal codes, but the new bill would shift the approach to amend copyright law, making it illegal to share deepfake materials of others without consent.
This legislation comes amidst a global concern surrounding the misuse of deepfake technology, which can facilitate nonconsensual pornography, fraud, and misinformation campaigns. While it has legitimate applications in various industries, the darker side poses significant threats to privacy and personal integrity.
Supporters of the bill hope that Denmark's proactive stance could serve as a benchmark for other nations, particularly within the European Union, where the country is currently holding the presidency. As potential implications ripple throughout Europe, this initiative could catalyze similar policies, aiming to better protect citizens against the ramifications of digital manipulation.
In essence, Denmark's pioneering approach not only seeks to safeguard individual rights in the digital realm but also raises important questions about the intersection of technology and legislative action in protecting privacy in modern society.