Denmark targets deepfakes as musicians demand AI payment

Denmark is preparing legislation that would make it illegal to create deepfakes of people without their consent, while musicians are calling for payment when their work is used to train artificial intelligence systems, mbl.is reports.

Technology companies developing AI models should obtain and pay for the necessary licences for the material they use to train them, according to Trine Jorst, a Danish lawyer. She said companies must continue paying for and showcasing content based on human creativity to preserve a sustainable market for artists.

Books, television programmes, music, films and other forms of entertainment are increasingly being displaced by cheaper content created with AI, Jorst told Morgunblaðið.

Proposal would protect voices and appearances

Jorst will speak about a proposed Danish legislative amendment concerning deepfakes at the Nordic Copyright Congress at Harpa from September 2 to 4. She will speak on the second day of the conference.

Jorst leads the Danish performers’ organisation Performex and negotiates on behalf of musicians in the AI industry, which is her speciality. She also handles matters involving television and streaming.

A deepfake video of Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen appeared on social media in 2024, prompting extensive debate about artificial intelligence, privacy and copyright. The debate led to a cross-party agreement, and the Danish parliament now plans to introduce stricter rules on deepfakes.

The Danish Ministry of Culture decided to propose legislation covering people’s voices and appearances in the digital age, Jorst said. The proposal concerns the digital recreation of people’s personal characteristics, whether they are famous or unknown. It would cover the prime minister as well as artists and musicians.

Artists want payment for training material

Musicians are facing difficult conditions, Jorst said. Their working environment has changed significantly, and music has been used without permission to train AI models.

Artists want to be paid when their work is used, particularly because their creations are being used to produce entertainment that competes with their own art.

If a musician’s music, face and performance are part of how they earn a living, someone can steal those characteristics and profit not only from the data but also from the musician’s image, Jorst said.

At the same time, she described AI as a powerful creative tool. Many artists are pleased to be able to use it, but are also deeply concerned. She said it was difficult to imagine the frustration of having one’s life’s work taken to train AI machines without payment, only to end up competing with the machine that stole it.

Jorst said the proposed Danish legislation could be a step towards clearer rules for musicians. No legislation has so far addressed their position in relation to AI, but enforcement would be one of the main uncertainties if the proposal is approved.