Denmark proposes new AI laws to protect digital identity and calls for stricter public AI oversight

Denmark is moving toward stricter regulations regarding artificial intelligence and digital identity. Culture Minister Zenia Stampe has introduced bill L 49, which aims to prohibit the creation and sharing of realistic AI-generated imitations of a person’s appearance, voice, or movements without explicit consent. Scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, the law shifts the burden of proof to the person sharing the content, who must be able to document that consent was granted. This protection extends to all physical persons and remains in effect until 50 years after their death, though exceptions are made for satire, parody, and social criticism, provided they do not spread harmful misinformation.

In a separate development, the Danish Data Ethics Council has urged the government and Parliament to reconsider granting public authorities broad mandates to develop and use AI. In a consultation response, the Council warned that broad authorization lacks sufficient frameworks for quality assurance, protection of citizen rights, and human oversight. The Council recommends that instead of broad mandates, the government should provide specific authorization for particular authorities and concrete AI applications to better manage risks such as algorithmic bias and opaque decision-making processes.