Nicosia, Cyprus. Akel submitted a bill to the House commerce committee on Tuesday aimed at addressing the harmful use of artificial intelligence and deep fake videos. The proposal was presented by Akel MP Christos Christofides.
Bill details and legal rights
Christofides said the bill is modelled on Danish legislation and recognises as a distinct legal right every person’s ownership of their face, voice and other personal characteristics. He said the aim is to prevent the use of such characteristics without consent, except in cases of satire or criticism.
Related proposals and EU context
Christofides confirmed that a proposal by the attorney-general to classify the creation of harmful deep fakes as a criminal offence will also be examined during the legislative process. He said the initiative aligns with broader EU direction on regulating artificial intelligence, recalling that Cyprus was the first European country to criminalise the production of child sexual abuse material generated through artificial intelligence.
Concerns over impact and commercial use
Christofides said deep fake technology increasingly blurs the boundary between reality and fabrication and can cause serious harm to individuals and society. He highlighted the use of deep fakes in commercial advertising without the knowledge or consent of those depicted, and their exploitation for revenge material, stressing the need for a clear legal framework to protect personal rights in the digital age.
How should the law balance protections against non-consensual deep fakes with exceptions for satire or criticism?