ABSTRACT
In 1994, when the internet was still in its infancy, the Media Database Act (MDA) was set up. The Act regulated databases that also functioned as media, and this Act now covers most, if not all, online media. Ninety one per cent of the Danish population is connected to the internet, 85 per cent use the internet on a daily basis and 67 per cent have a Facebook account. In 2017, the Criminal Code Commission issued a report on defamation and the protection of private life, including in-depth considerations as to the impact of the internet. The Danish Constitution, the first version of which was enacted in 1849, provides limited protection of freedom of speech. As for the European Union, Denmark has not been involved in European Court of Justice cases relating to freedom of speech. The professional media do not usually engage in direct threats towards individuals, and neither do professional journalists regularly approve of criminal behaviour.
