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EU AI Act in Denmark

How the EU AI Act applies to Danish organizations. Local authority, enforcement, and compliance guidance.

· 6 min read

How it applies in Denmark

The EU AI Act is a regulation, not a directive. This means it applies directly in Denmark without requiring national implementing legislation.

Key implications:

  • Danish organizations must comply with EU AI Act requirements directly
  • No waiting for Danish legislation to translate EU rules
  • Same deadlines as the rest of the EU
  • Danish authorities will enforce the regulation

Who’s affected:

  • Danish companies using AI
  • International companies serving Danish customers
  • Danish subsidiaries of global organizations
  • Public sector organizations using AI

Regulatory authority

Denmark is establishing its AI regulatory framework. The designated authority (or authorities) will be responsible for:

  • Market surveillance
  • Enforcement actions
  • Guidance and support
  • Notified body designation
  • Cross-border coordination

Current status: Denmark is in the process of designating competent authorities. Updates will be published as the regulatory structure is finalized.

Expected roles:

  • The Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen) may have a role in general enforcement
  • Sector-specific regulators may handle AI in their domains
  • The Danish Data Protection Agency (Datatilsynet) may coordinate where AI intersects with GDPR

Enforcement and penalties

The EU AI Act establishes significant penalties:

ViolationMaximum Penalty
Prohibited AI practices€35M or 7% global turnover
High-risk non-compliance€15M or 3% global turnover
Incorrect information€7.5M or 1% global turnover

For SMEs: Lower penalty caps apply to small and medium-sized enterprises, though the percentage of turnover still applies.

Danish enforcement: Enforcement will likely follow Danish administrative traditions:

  • Initial focus on guidance and support
  • Escalation for persistent non-compliance
  • Coordination with EU-level enforcement

Danish guidance

Danish organizations should follow:

EU-level resources:

  • European Commission AI Act guidance
  • European AI Office publications
  • Harmonized standards as they’re published

Danish resources:

  • Digitaliseringsstyrelsen AI guidelines
  • Datatilsynet guidance on AI and data protection
  • Sector-specific guidance from relevant regulators

Best practices:

  • Start with a complete AI inventory
  • Apply EU AI Act risk classifications
  • Document governance measures
  • Train staff on AI literacy
  • Prepare for regulatory queries

Resources

Official Danish sources:

  • Digitaliseringsstyrelsen: [link]
  • Datatilsynet: [link]
  • Erhvervsstyrelsen: [link]

EU sources:

  • European Commission AI Act page
  • European AI Office
  • EU AI Act full text (Official Journal)

Industry resources:

  • DI Digital (Dansk Industri)
  • IT-Branchen
  • Dansk Erhverv

This guide will be updated as Danish regulatory structures are finalized and additional guidance is published.