Denmark takes bold step to protect citizens from deepfakes

In Denmark, the government has announced plans to address the growing issue of AI-generated deepfakes by introducing legislation that will grant citizens property rights over their own likeness and voice. This initiative is expected to be the first of its kind globally, recognizing that as technology evolves, it becomes increasingly important to protect individuals from digital identity theft. Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt emphasized that the rise of generative AI has made it alarmingly easy to misuse people's features, which can have severe implications for both artists and average citizens alike. Engel-Schmidt pointed to instances in the music industry where musical artists have encountered unauthorized AI-generated content that mimics their voice or likeness, such as the case with Canadian singer Celine Dion, who recently warned her fans about AI-generated material purporting to be her. Moreover, in April 2024, over 200 artists, including well-known names like Billie Eilish and Katy Perry, signed an open letter expressing concerns regarding the threats AI poses to the music industry. This growing unrest over AI misuse underscores the urgency of establishing robust protections for individuals. If the proposed legislation is passed, it would allow individuals to request the removal of deepfake content from hosting platforms, thereby providing them with a means of recourse against misuse. Engel-Schmidt, who believes that the current legislation has failed to keep pace with technology, has reportedly gained support across political lines for this bill, which he expects to be approved in the coming fall. Additionally, Engel-Schmidt hinted at the possibility of introducing further measures to impose fines on companies that do not comply with removal requests. Experts, such as Athina Karatzogianni, a professor at the University of Leicester, have noted that the Danish initiative reflects a global trend of policy reforms aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of generative AI. Karatzogianni explains that deepfakes can harm both individual rights and broader societal values, thus threatening the foundations of democracy, which rely on principles like equality and transparency. The implications of this legislation could set a significant precedent for how nations address the challenges posed by emerging technologies.