Denmark’s amendment to its copyright law is the first of its kind in Europe, sending a clear message: in the digital era, human identity must be safeguarded as a fundamental right.

Denmark’s Groundbreaking Deepfake Law — A Human-Centric Response to the Age of Synthetic Media

On June 27, 2025, Denmark announced a pioneering legal reform aimed at tackling the proliferation of deepfakes by giving individuals copyright-like rights to their own likeness — including facial features, body, and voice. In a bold move to protect citizens from AI-driven identity manipulation, Denmark’s amendment to its copyright law is the first of its kind in Europe, sending a clear message: in the digital era, human identity must be safeguarded as a fundamental right.

A Good Development? Absolutely.

This is a highly positive and much-needed development. The explosion of generative AI tools has led to a surge in convincing deepfakes — videos, audio, and images that mimic real people’s appearance and voice with little to no consent. The misuse of this technology is no longer a hypothetical risk; it has been used to defame public figures, impersonate politicians, create non-consensual sexual content, and spread disinformation.

Denmark’s decision to legally recognize individuals’ control over their own biometric identity addresses this crisis head-on. By extending copyright protections to a person’s unique attributes, the law treats digital identity theft not merely as a privacy violation or defamation but as an infringement of ownership. This legal framing is powerful because it moves beyond content moderation or post-hoc removals — it shifts the burden of proof and liability to those who generate and distribute the content without consent.

Should Other Countries Follow Suit?

Yes — and urgently. This legislative model has several merits that make it adaptable and desirable in other jurisdictions:

1. Human Rights Alignment: The measure aligns with international human rights standards that protect personal dignity, identity, and integrity — particularly Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to privacy).

2. Complementary to Copyright Law: Many countries still lack a comprehensive legal approach to synthetic media. Traditional copyright laws protect creative expression, not the individual’s likeness. Denmark’s proposal fills that critical legal gap.

3. Accountability for Platforms and Developers: The proposed fines for non-compliance and potential escalation to the European Commission signal a real enforcement mechanism, unlike voluntary content moderation policies used by most tech firms.

4. Respect for Artistic Exceptions: Importantly, the law makes clear that satire and parody are exempt — preserving free speech and creative freedom while tackling malicious misuse.

As AI technologies continue to democratize the power to replicate people’s faces and voices, jurisdictions worldwide — especially those already experiencing electoral interference, misinformation campaigns, or gendered disinformation — should consider adapting similar protections.

Advantages for Citizens

Denmark’s new legal initiative presents a wide array of benefits for its citizens:

1. Legal Control Over Digital Identity
   Individuals gain enforceable rights to their own face, body, and voice — reducing the risk of non-consensual use in harmful or misleading ways.

2. Empowerment Through Consent
   Citizens now have legal backing to demand takedowns of unauthorized synthetic media, giving them control over how their identity is used online.

3. Deterrence of Harmful Use
   The threat of penalties and lawsuits discourages bad actors and encourages platforms to invest in detection, moderation, and consent protocols.

4. Compensation for Damages
   Victims of deepfake misuse could receive financial compensation, shifting costs away from the harmed individual and onto the perpetrator or negligent platforms.

5. Protection for Performers and Creators
   Artists, actors, and public speakers are explicitly protected from digital imitation without consent, preserving the economic and reputational value of their performances.

6. Clarity for Tech Companies
   By establishing clear rules, the law offers certainty to developers and platforms, encouraging them to design AI tools responsibly and avoid future litigation.

7. Preservation of Trust in Media
   In an era where “seeing is no longer believing,” this law is a step toward restoring trust in digital content by punishing deceptive use of synthetic media.

8. Ethical Leadership in Europe
   Denmark’s move may encourage broader EU adoption, especially as it prepares to lead the EU presidency, helping establish a continental standard rooted in dignity and self-determination.

Conclusion

Denmark’s approach to granting individuals copyright-like control over their own likeness in the face of rising deepfake abuse is a pioneering model of 21st-century governance. It reframes personal identity as something owned — not just experienced — and responds proportionately to the power of generative AI. Other nations would be wise to follow suit, adapting this approach to their legal traditions and cultural contexts. For citizens, this marks a profound advancement in the digital age: a reclaiming of selfhood in the face of algorithmic impersonation, and a reassertion of human rights in the age of artificial intelligence.