TECH NEWS – With this move, the country aims to combat deepfakes and artificial intelligence, which will greatly benefit its citizens.
Every now and then, a law comes along that seems so obvious you’d think it already existed. That’s exactly what’s happened in Denmark. Instead of targeting the creators of AI, the country has made a well-reasoned decision to change its copyright law, automatically granting everyone ownership of their own likeness—including their body, face, and even voice.
The change was announced on Thursday as part of Denmark’s strategy to protect people from identity theft via AI. The European Union appears to be taking a different stance than the United States by prioritizing individuals over market interests. While this law seems like common sense, Denmark is thought to be the first EU country to offer such internal ownership rights and protection.
“The bill sends an unequivocal message that everyone has the right to their body, voice, and facial features. Apparently, the current law does not protect people against generative AI. Human beings can be run through a digital copy machine and misused for all sorts of purposes, and I’m not willing to accept that. This is new ground that we are breaking. If the platforms do not comply, we are willing to take additional steps,” said Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt to the Guardian.
As AI continues to expand rapidly, people across the globe now have powerful new tools at their fingertips. Unfortunately, many of those tools are being used to steal from others—be it artwork, written content, or even entire faces. Now anyone can produce realistic videos of others saying or doing things they never actually said or did, and the law is struggling to catch up. This simple, universal law seems like a clever way to restore some power to individuals ahead of the inevitable lawsuits.
Importantly, the law will not restrict parody or satire. Instead, the Danish government appears to be targeting defamation and misinformation. This could become a murky area as AI evolves, but the intention behind the law seems clear and strong. The proposal enjoys strong political backing, with 9 out of 10 MPs supporting the change. The Ministry of Culture is currently drafting the amendment, which they hope will be passed in the fall.
Denmark hopes other EU countries will follow its lead and introduce similar protections. It also plans to use its rotating EU presidency to promote likeness and voice ownership rights across the Union.
Source: PCGamer, The Guardian
