Danish justice minister seeks tougher rules for tech giants

Denmark’s justice minister wants legislation reviewed to make technology companies more accountable for illegal and harmful content on their platforms, following a DR report on AI-generated abuse material featuring images of children.

Nicolai Wammen said the law, including the penal code, should be examined closely to ensure companies can be held responsible. “Tech giants earn billions of kroner from our children and young people, so they must also protect them. They are not doing that today,” he said.

Wammen made the comments at an open hearing before parliament’s Justice Committee on Friday. The hearing followed DR’s report that images of children, including a Danish child, had appeared in AI-generated abuse material in advertisements on Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Experts and organisations had called for clear legislation and stronger regulation of companies including Meta, Google and TikTok. Miriam Michaelsen, chair of the Media Council for Children and Young People, was among those urging action.

Police already have specialised units working on the issue, Wammen said, but responsibility for content on platforms must rest with the companies. “They must be held accountable by society. I think we have only seen the tip of the iceberg here,” he said.

Rosa Lund, justice spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance, welcomed a review of the penal code and possible prosecutions of large technology companies. But she said police also need more resources and that large fines are not enough. “Something else is needed. This has to be illegal,” she said.

DR has asked Meta to comment on Wammen’s remarks. The company has previously told DR that it does not tolerate any form of sexual exploitation, real or AI-generated, and that it takes firm steps to keep its platforms safe. Meta has also said it continually works to remove such content.

In a statement to DR in September, Meta said people creating illegal content constantly change tactics to avoid detection, adding that the company continues to improve its defences and hold them accountable.