Dialogos

Alarm Bells for Deepfakes: AKEL Proposes Ban on Imitations Without Consent

Published January 28, 2026, 06:04
Alarm Bells for Deepfakes: AKEL Proposes Ban on Imitations Without Consent

AKEL MP Christos Christofides proposed legislative intervention to address the risks associated with the use of deepfakes. The proposed law aims to ban the public distribution of imitations of people's features, voices, or artistic performances through artificial intelligence without their explicit consent. Mr. Christofides emphasized that deepfakes can cause confusion, misinformation, and serious harm to individuals and democracy, citing the false “interview” with President Christodoulides as an example. He also highlighted the worrying use of people for commercial purposes without permission, as well as the emergence of fraud and revenge videos. The proposal draws inspiration from Denmark, which has enshrined the right of every person to their own image. The discussion at the House Energy Committee was positive, and the inclusion of the offense in the Penal Code is being considered.