Denmark is pioneering new legal protections by proposing an amendment to its copyright law that would grant citizens automatic rights over their own face, body, and voice to combat the rise of AI-generated deepfakes. Yes, people in Denmark will be able to copyright their faces. The landmark legislation, introduced by the Ministry of Culture and expected to be submitted for consultation in summer 2025 with a formal amendment anticipated in autumn, aims to strengthen personal digital rights by making it illegal to create or disseminate realistic digital imitations of individuals without their explicit consent.

Under the proposed law, Danish citizens would have the right to demand the removal of deepfake content—such as manipulated images, videos, or audio—from social media and other online platforms if shared without their permission. Platforms that fail to comply would face severe fines. The legislation also allows victims of unauthorized deepfakes to seek compensation. There may be a loophole though. The law would not affect satire or parody, which remain protected under existing exceptions.

The move is a direct response to the increasing prevalence and sophistication of deepfake technology, which has led to incidents involving manipulated videos of public figures and the nonconsensual creation of explicit content. The Danish government, with broad cross-party support (around 90% of MPs), hopes to set a precedent in Europe and plans to advocate for similar protections during Denmark’s upcoming EU presidency.

This approach marks a significant shift from existing laws, which are seen as inadequate for protecting individuals from exploitation by generative AI. The Danish Culture Minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, emphasized that everyone should have ownership over their own image, voice, and body, a right not currently guaranteed by law. If enacted, Denmark would become the first country in Europe – and the world – to give a person the right to copyright their face.