Denmark plans to introduce legislation restricting the unauthorized digital copying and sharing of people’s likenesses and voices. The proposed law aims to tackle AI-generated deepfakes and protect individuals’ privacy.

Culture Minister Zenia Stampe said the legislation would prevent people’s appearances and voices from being digitally imitated and distributed without their consent.

Stampe warned that AI-generated images and videos could spread misinformation. She also said manipulated content was making it harder to distinguish real footage from fabricated material.

“One of the main goals of the bill is to get the tech giants to take down manipulated content quickly so that it causes as little harm as possible,” Stampe said.

Denmark Targets Unauthorized AI Replicas

Stampe also described her own experience with deepfake technology. She said someone had turned her profile photograph into a video showing her speaking.

Although the video was labelled as satire, she said the experience felt intrusive.

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The proposed legislation would cover members of the public and artists. However, it would preserve protections for parody, satire, caricature and other forms of expression.

These exceptions would allow people to criticize public figures, those in positions of power and wider society.

Social Media Platforms Could Face Removal Requirements

Under the proposal, social media companies and online platforms would have to remove illegal deepfake content promptly.

The government wants technology companies to respond quickly when manipulated material violates the law. The aim is to limit the potential harm caused by unauthorized digital imitations.

However, distinguishing satire from unlawful manipulation could prove difficult. Stampe acknowledged that some cases would require careful legal assessment.

Courts would ultimately decide whether specific content qualifies as protected satire or violates the proposed rules.

Proposed Law Awaits Parliamentary Approval

The legislation still requires approval from Denmark’s parliament before it can take effect.

Stampe said she hopes the new rules will come into force around the turn of the year.

If approved, the law would establish new protections against unauthorized AI-generated replicas while retaining exceptions for satire and other forms of expression.

The proposal reflects growing concerns about deepfakes, online misinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to imitate real people.