Deep fake videos legislation submitted to House

Akel submitted a bill to the House commerce committee on Tuesday aimed at addressing the harmful use of artificial intelligence and ‘deep fake’ videos.

Presenting the proposal, Akel MP Christos 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.

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.

Christofides said deep fake technology increasingly blurs the boundary between reality and fabrication and can cause serious harm to individuals and society.

He also highlighted the use of deep fakes in commercial advertising without the knowledge or consent of those depicted, as well as their exploitation for revenge material, stressing the need for a clear legal framework to protect personal rights in the digital age.