The Danish government plans to step up the fight against the use of artificial intelligence to create and distribute deepfakes by changing copyright law to ensure everyone has the right to their own body, face and voice.
The Guardian reports this.
Denmark to Protect Citizens from Deepfakes by Legislation
Denmark is set to introduce Europe's first law to strengthen protections against digital identity theft, the government said on Thursday.
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Having received broad support among parliamentary parties, the Ministry of Culture plans to submit the draft amendments for public discussion by the summer holidays and to submit it to parliament for consideration in the fall.
The document defines a deepfake as a highly realistic digital reproduction of a person, including their appearance and voice.
Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said he hoped the bill would send a clear message that everyone has the right to choose how they look and sound.
“We are unanimous in our decision and send a clear message: everyone has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features. It is clear that the current law does not guarantee this right from generative AI,” he told the Guardian.
The initiative, which the government says is backed by around 90% of MPs, comes as AI advances rapidly, making it easier to create convincing fake images, videos or sounds to impersonate another person.
Following changes to the copyright law, Danish citizens will be able to demand that online platforms remove such content if it is distributed without their consent.
The law will also apply to realistic, digital imitations of artists' performances without their consent. Violations will provide for compensation to victims.
At the same time, the government stressed that the new rules will not apply to parodies and satire, which will remain permitted.
