Dutch parliament considering copyright on faces, voices in fight against deepfakes

A majority in parliament wants the government to do more to combat the online misuse of people’s images. Parliamentarians Hanneke van der Werf (D66), Jesse Six Dijkstra (NSC), Barbara Kathmann (GroenLinks-PvdA), and Ingrid Michon-Derkzen (VVD) propose following the Danish example and granting people copyrights on their appearance and voice.

This expansion of copyright could help in the criminal prosecution of deepfakes, images edited using artificial intelligence (AI). These photos and videos, often pornographic in nature, are usually virtually indistinguishable from the real deal. Denmark recently became the first European country to introduce such legislation.

The four parties want to know whether copyright law in the Netherlands is also suitable for tackling deepfakes. They also want the government to take tougher action against large technology companies, which are doing too little to prevent the distribution of such fake images via their platforms.

Van der Werf points to the “devastating effects” that fake pornography has on victims and their families. “If major tech companies refuse to act, then politicians must take action. That’s why the Netherlands, like Denmark, must expand copyright. Everyone must be able to retain control over their own face, body, and voice.”