A British parliamentary committee is pressuring the government to axe plans that would allow artificial intelligence developers to freely train their systems on existing works of music, literature and art.
In an Aug. 30 report, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee warned the government’s original plan to exempt text and data mining by AI from copyright protections “risks reducing arts and cultural production to mere ‘inputs’ in AI development,” and shows a “clear lack of understanding” for the needs of the United Kingdom’s creators.
The report claimed the U.K. government — currently led by the pro-AI Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — must work to “regain the trust” of creative industries following its “abortive attempt” to introduce exemptions for AI developers.
The Committee — a bipartisan group of 11 British members of parliament — urged Sunak to improve protections for artists so their likeness may be protected amid the rapid growth of generative AI.
No country will be untouched by AI, and no country alone will solve the challenges posed by this technology.
Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage said in an accompanying press release that “the chorus of warnings from musicians, authors and artists about the real and lasting harm [and] failure to protect intellectual property in a world where the influence of AI is growing should be enough for Ministers to sit up and take notice.”
In its report, the Committee concluded all branches of government “need to better understand the impact of AI, and technology more broadly, on the creative industries and be able to defend their interests consistently.”
Seemingly, the Committee isn’t alone on this issue. Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, the CEO of UK Music — Britain’s largest commercial music advocacy group — described the government’s current approach as a “green light to music laundering,” in July last year.
“There are huge benefits and destructive impacts of AI.”
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, chief executive of UK Music, tells @mattfrei that generative AI should be used to enhance the music industry – without replacing humans. pic.twitter.com/3TtglAhx08
In Feb. 2023, music label Universal Music also warned that allowing AI free access to existing works of music and art would cause “widespread and lasting harm” and undermine the rights of creators.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.
The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.
In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.
“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.
Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.
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Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.
She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.
“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”
Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.
Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.
“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.
Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.