Denmark is moving to outlaw the use of deepfake images on the internet, claiming that these digital modifications can create misinformation and cast doubt on reality.
A "broad cross section" of parliamentary parties, according to the government, favor stronger safeguards against deepfakes, and a proposed measure is anticipated to outlaw their dissemination along with other digital imitations of personal traits.
According to officials, the actions are thought to be some of the most comprehensive a government has yet to take in the fight against deepfakes, or artificial intelligence-generated content that is incredibly lifelike but fake.
Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, in a statement, said that it was “high time that we now create a safeguard against the spread of misinformation and at the same time send a clear signal to the tech giants.”
Although they can also be audio, deepfakes typically take the form of images or videos. They have the ability to give the impression that someone said or did something that they didn't. Pope Francis and Taylor Swift are two well-known people who have been portrayed in deepfakes.
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While different nations' authorities have used varied strategies to combat deepfakes, they have primarily targeted sexually graphic images.
In May, US President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation that criminalizes the deliberate publication or threat of publication of personal pictures, including deepfakes, without the consent of the subject.
South Korea implemented efforts to combat deepfake porn last year, including stricter penalties and more stringent guidelines for social media companies.
The government did not say how "parodies and satire" would be judged, but the idea would still permit them. It stated that the regulations would only be in effect in Denmark and that, even in cases where some form of "compensation" would be justified, violators would not face penalties or jail time.
According to the ministry, a proposal to change Danish law on the subject would be put up this summer with the goal of having it passed either late this year or early in 2026. Any modifications must adhere to EU legislation and the nation's international commitments.
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“Since images and videos also quickly become embedded in people’s subconscious, digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can create fundamental doubts about — and perhaps even a completely wrong perception of — what are genuine depictions of reality,” an English translation of a ministry statement said. “The agreement is therefore intended to ensure the right to one’s own body and voice.”