Denmark Introduces Bill to Protect People From Unauthorized AI Deepfakes of Their Face and Voice
Denmark's Minister of Culture introduced Bill L 49 to parliament on October 8, 2026, which would prohibit sharing realistic AI-generated imitations of a person's appearance, voice, or movements without their consent. If passed, the law would take effect January 1, 2027, and allow courts to order removal of infringing content.
Denmark's Minister of Culture Zenia Stampe introduced Bill L 49 to the Danish Parliament on October 8, 2026, proposing legislation that would prohibit the public sharing of realistic AI-generated imitations of a person's appearance, voice, or movements without their consent.
The bill amends the Danish Copyright Act to grant individuals legal control over their own digital likenesses and performances. If passed by the Folketing, the law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The legislation introduces two primary sections into the Copyright Act. Section 73a protects all natural persons, including foreign nationals, against realistic digitally generated imitations of their personal physical characteristics such as their face, voice, and movements. Section 65a specifically protects performing artists and musicians from unauthorized digital imitations of their performances.
The bill defines "realistic" as an imitation that creates an obvious risk of confusion with a real depiction of the person. The term "digitally generated" is broad, covering both advanced AI deepfakes and conventional digital editing tools.
The legislation places the burden of proof on the publisher of the content to demonstrate that valid consent was obtained. Consent must be voluntary, specific, informed, and unambiguous. The law is civil rather than criminal, meaning it does not impose fines or prison sentences. Instead, it provides a legal basis for courts to award damages and order the removal of infringing content from online platforms.
Protection extends for the life of the individual and persists until 50 years after the end of the year of their death. Exceptions exist for satire, parody, caricature, and social or political criticism, though these do not apply if the content constitutes misinformation that poses a serious danger to others' rights or safety.
Denmark's proposal operates alongside the broader EU AI Act, which became applicable in August 2026 and focuses on transparency and disclosure. The Danish bill is distinct in that it focuses on the individual's right to control their likeness rather than solely on the requirement to label AI-generated content.
