Denmark grants people copyright over their own appearance to fight deepfakes

Denmark plans to become the first European country to give citizens copyright protection over their physical appearance and voice. The Danish government announced it will amend copyright law to combat AI-generated deepfakes, according to Miranda Bryant reporting for The Guardian. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said the legislation sends an “unequivocal message” that everyone has rights to their body, voice and facial features. The proposal has backing from nine out of ten parliament members. Once approved, people could demand online platforms remove deepfake content shared without consent. Violations may result in compensation for victims. The law defines deepfakes as realistic digital representations of people’s appearance and voice. Parodies and satire remain protected under the new rules. Denmark plans to share this approach with EU partners during its upcoming presidency.