Meta description: Denmark passes a landmark law giving citizens full control over their face, voice, and body in AI content. India, facing a wave of deepfakes targeting journalists and celebrities, still lacks clear legal protection.
Denmark has become the first European country to propose copyright-style protection over a person’s face, body, and voice. Under the new law, creating or sharing deepfakes without consent could invite takedown orders and financial penalties. The government clarified that parody and satire remain protected, but malicious impersonation won’t be tolerated.
This bold move comes amid rising global concern over the misuse of AI-generated content particularly deepfakes that mimic real people to spread misinformation or defame.
In India, deepfake technology is rapidly spreading, but the law hasn’t kept up. While the IT Act and Indian Penal Code cover defamation, cybercrime, and obscenity, they do not directly address AI impersonation or the misuse of a person’s likeness.
So far, victims can only pursue patchwork remedies under existing provisions, which are slow and reactive. There is no standalone law that gives Indians the right to their own image or voice yet.
Veteran journalist Ravish Kumar recently revealed multiple YouTube channels creating deepfake videos of him. These fake clips show him saying provocative things he never said. Ravish has flagged these to YouTube, calling them part of a broader disinformation campaign.
Similarly, actor-MP Hema Malini raised the issue in Parliament, warning how deepfakes harm mental health and reputations. Stars like Rashmika Mandanna and Katrina Kaif have also been victims of explicit deepfake content and filed complaints.
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Experts agree: India needs new laws. These should treat a person’s likeness as intellectual property, ensure faster takedowns, and penalize creators of malicious content. Denmark’s law sets the pace. India can’t afford to trail behind especially when faces are being stolen in plain sight
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