Denmark is proposing new legislation to amend its digital copyright law in an effort to combat the rising threat of deepfakes. The proposed amendment aims to protect individuals’ rights over their digital identities, specifically their appearance and voice, from the harmful impact of AI-generated deepfakes.
Deepfakes, which utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic fake images, videos, and audio recordings, are increasingly being used to spread fake news, enable financial fraud, and facilitate cybercrime. These attacks have resulted in substantial financial losses, prompting the Danish government to take action.
The Danish government intends to submit the amendment in the autumn and anticipates cross-party support, highlighting the urgency of addressing the deepfake threat. The amendment is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe.
The term “deepfake” originates from the combination of “deep learning” and “fake,” referring to both the AI technology employed and the resulting false content. Deepfakes can either alter existing content or generate entirely new content, potentially causing significant harm. For instance, superimposing faces in a film scene, while seemingly harmless, can infringe upon an individual’s right to their image. In 2023, US actors went on strike to secure consent for the AI use of their images, resulting in the industry’s commitment to obtain consent for any future AI use of actors’ images.
Deepfakes pose a significant threat due to their potential for spreading fake news. Examples include deepfakes of former US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which lend credibility to false information by appearing to originate from trustworthy sources. Resemble.ai’s research indicates that financial fraud and cybercrime are also significant growth areas for deepfake attacks. While 41% of those targeted are public figures, 34% are private individuals, predominantly women and children, and 18% are organizations.
Notable examples of deepfake attacks include a case where a UK engineering firm, Arup, lost $25 million in a deepfake scam. Criminals used an AI-generated clone of a senior manager to convince a finance employee to transfer funds. Additionally, a fraud attempt on Ferrari, using the AI-generated voice of CEO Benedetto Vigna, was narrowly averted when an employee asked a question that only the real CEO could answer. A BBC journalist was also able to bypass her bank’s voice identification system using a synthetic version of her own voice.
Resemble.ai’s deepfake security report for Q2 2025 revealed a significant increase in deepfake attacks. The company reported 487 publicly disclosed deepfake attacks in the second quarter of 2025, a 41% increase from the previous quarter and over 300% year-on-year. Direct financial losses from deepfake scams have reached nearly $350 million, with attacks doubling every six months.
According to Resemble.ai, deepfake fraud is a global issue primarily concentrated in technologically advanced regions, with emerging markets becoming increasingly affected. The US leads in reported incidents, but deepfake cases are also widespread across Asia Pacific and Europe and are rapidly growing in Africa.
In response to the increasing threat of deepfakes, policymakers are implementing various measures. In the United States, the Take It Down Act requires the removal of harmful deepfakes within 48 hours and imposes federal criminal penalties for their distribution. Public websites and mobile apps are mandated to establish reporting and takedown procedures. State legislators in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida have also passed deepfake laws.
In Europe, the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect in 2024, aims to prevent illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation. Online service providers are under greater EU scrutiny, and several formal investigations for non-compliance are already underway. The UK adopted a similar approach in early 2025 with the Online Safety Act.
The Danish amendment under consideration would allow individuals affected by deepfake content to request its removal, and artists could demand compensation for the unauthorized use of their image. This right would extend for 50 years beyond the artist’s death. Online platforms like Meta and X could face substantial fines if the amended bill is passed as proposed. While the bill doesn’t directly provide for compensation or criminal charges, it would establish the legal foundation for seeking damages under Danish law.
With Denmark holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it has expressed a commitment to making media and culture central to European democracy, promoting initiatives such as the European Democracy Shield. The amendment to domestic copyright law is expected to send strong political signals to both Brussels and the wider EU.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety aims to accelerate public-private collaboration to address harmful content, including deepfakes, and to promote the exchange of best practices in online safety regulation and support efforts to improve digital media literacy.
The World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) has launched the AI Governance Alliance to address the uncertainties surrounding generative AI and the need for robust AI governance frameworks. The Alliance unites industry leaders, governments, academic institutions, and civil society organizations to champion responsible global design and release of transparent and inclusive AI systems. This includes workstreams within the AI Transformation of Industries initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Energy and Materials, the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, the Centre for Cybersecurity, the Centre for Nature and Climate, and the Global Industries team.
