Denmark is preparing legislation that would outlaw the sharing of deepfake content online, a move that could open the door to unprecedented restrictions on digital expression.
Deepfakes, which can involve photos, videos, or audio recordings manipulated by artificial intelligence, are designed to convincingly fabricate actions or statements that never occurred.
While governments cite misinformation concerns, broad bans risk stifling creativity, political commentary, and legitimate speech.
The Danish Ministry of Culture announced Thursday that lawmakers from many parties are backing the effort to clamp down on the distribution of AI-generated imitations of people’s appearances or voices.
The forthcoming proposal, according to officials, aims to block the spread of deepfakes by making it illegal to share such material. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt argued 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.”
But these assurances do little to address the chilling effect such measures could have on free expression.
Authorities describe the planned rules as among the most comprehensive attempts yet to confront deepfakes and their potential to mislead the public.
The United States last year introduced legislation criminalizing the non-consensual sharing of intimate deepfakes, while South Korea has imposed tougher punishments for similar offenses and tightened regulations on social media platforms.
Officials say that the proposal would allow room for parodies and satire, though the criteria for these exceptions remain vague, leaving ample opportunity for overreach.
The government intends to present the legislation later this year, with hopes of securing approval before 2026, while ensuring compliance with European Union and international rules.
