Denmark to Grant Copyright Over Face and Voice to Fight AI

In a major policy shift, Denmark is set to become the first European nation to grant citizens copyright over their own facial features, voice, and physical likeness. The proposed amendment to its existing copyright law aims to restrain the rising threat of AI-generated deepfakes.

The Danish Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday that it is working on a new law. This proposal will be shared for feedback before the summer break. Most political parties are behind the change, and it is likely to appear before Parliament this fall.

According to Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, the existing legislation is inadequate to protect the identities of people in the digital realm. “We are sending an unequivocal message: every individual has the right to their own body, voice, and facial features,” he stated.

After the law is issued, individuals will be able to request the expungement of illegal digital copies on the internet, such as AI-generated images and voice reproductions. It also covers the cases of artists, where their performance is digitally copied without their consent. Individuals who violate this law might be required to pay damages.

The law under discussion incorporates safeguards in place to safeguard satire and parody so that the work of imagination is not held captive. The government additionally cautioned platforms that do not adhere to the regulations to expect severe penalization, such as fines, or even EU-level enforcement procedures.

As Denmark assumes the next EU presidency, Engel-Schmidt indicated that this framework will be introduced to other member states, making it possible that this regulation becomes continental.