Denmark proposes law to ban unauthorized deepfake distribution

The Danish Ministry of Culture has introduced a legislative proposal to prohibit the distribution of deepfakes—realistic digital imitations of a person's face or voice—without express consent. The initiative seeks to reform intellectual property laws to protect both private citizens and public figures, such as artists and performers, from unauthorized identity use via artificial intelligence.

The proposed law focuses on curbing the dissemination of synthetic content rather than banning its creation. By targeting distribution, the government aims to empower individuals to control how their likeness is used and to compel major technology platforms to remove manipulated content more rapidly to minimize potential harm.

While the law provides broad protections, it includes exceptions for caricature, parody, satire, and social or political criticism. If passed through the parliamentary process, the new regulations are expected to enter into force in early 2027.