Glimmer of hope as No10 ‘recognises the energy of feeling’ over Big Tech AI raid – as iconic creatives throughout the nation again name to ‘make it honest’
- Click the button below to write to your local MP, calling on them to safeguard creative rights in AI
There was a glimmer of hope last night after No10 said it recognised ‘the strength of feeling’ over plans to let Big Tech plunder Britain’s creative industries.
Downing Street conceded that its controversial proposal to give AI firms a copyright exception may not emerge as the final option following a powerful campaign by the Daily Mail.
It comes as every newspaper in the country today carries an unprecedented front-page warning over the plan and calls on the Government to ‘Make It Fair’.
Tech firms use news articles, books, films, art and music – which publishers and creators say they should pay for – to train their AI models.
If they do not pay for this, experts warn it will destroy our £126billion creative sector, which employs 2.4million people and gives Britain its cultural-superpower status.
Yet the Government has said it favours changing the law to allow tech platforms to use online material without permission unless creators opt out – putting the burden on artists and publishers to police their own work.
As things stand, every creator’s work is automatically protected by copyright law.
Downing Street conceded that its controversial proposal to give AI firms a copyright exception may not emerge as the final option (pictured: Keir Starmer)
ABBA star Bjorn Ulvaeus is among the artists, politicians and industry leaders who back the call – which is also being carried by regional papers across the UK, including the Mail
However, last night the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We recognise the strength of feeling around the future of this industry. That is why we are consulting on a new approach.’
ABBA star Bjorn Ulvaeus is among the artists, politicians and industry leaders who back the call, which is also being carried by regional papers across the UK.
Ulvaeus, speaking as president of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, said: ‘There is no way we can or should stand against AI. I am using AI models myself – these are wonderful tools.
‘But this progress must never come at the expense of creators’ rights. This is not just an ethical issue, it’s economic good sense because the whole concept of copyright has immense impact on culture, jobs and the economy. We can’t let that be watered down by poor regulation of AI.’
Owen Meredith, chief executive of the News Media Association which co-ordinated the Make It Fair front page, said: ‘This is the first time every paper has united in a news-led campaign.
‘But there is also support across the creative industries. We’re appealing to the great British public to get behind our campaign, and call on the Government to guarantee creatives are able to secure proper financial reward from AI firms to ensure a sustainable future for both AI and the creative industries.’
Tom Kiehl, head of UK Music, representing the music industry, said: ‘Our creative industries are united against these deeply damaging proposals to let AI bots plunder the UK’s creative talent.
‘We want to be part of the Government’s growth strategy, yet this plan to tear up our copyright rules would allow that growth and value to be freely siphoned away. Tech giants talk about training their systems on work that has been created through the blood, sweat and tears of UK artists as though it’s a harmless enterprise – in reality it amounts to the Great Train Robbery.’
Comedian Sandi Toksvig, president of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, said her own books had been used to train AI without her consent.
AI expert Baroness Kidron said: ‘The broader creative industries – from music to movies, literature to academia – are speaking as one. It is not for the Government to give their property away.’
The Make It Fair campaign lands as the pivotal consultation on whether to allow the copyright exception for AI closes today.
The Government said: ‘No decisions have been taken and no moves will be made until we are absolutely confident we have a practical plan that delivers our objectives, including increased control for rights holders to help them easily license their content, enabling lawful access to material to train world-leading AI models in the UK.’
