UK Creatives launch Campaign against AI Firms using their Content

The UK’s creative industries have launched a new campaign against AI firms using their content for free.

Campaigners warn that AI models, which scrape creative work from the internet without permission or payment, pose an “existential threat” to the arts.

The campaign follows a government consultation that could allow tech firms to use content unless creators explicitly opt out.

Artists, authors, journalists, illustrators, photographers, filmmakers, scriptwriters, singers, and songwriters say this forces them to police their own work.

The campaign argues that if the government allows this, it will devastate an industry worth £120 billion per year to the UK economy.

Over the next week, media outlets will promote the Make It Fair campaign with the message:

“The government wants to change the UK’s laws to favour big tech platforms so they can use British creative content to power their AI models without our permission or payment.

“Let’s protect the creative industries – it’s only fair.”

Owen Meredith, CEO of the News Media Association, said:

“We already have gold-standard copyright laws in the UK.

“They have underpinned growth and job creation in the creative economy across the UK – supporting some of the world’s greatest creators – artists, authors, journalists, scriptwriters, singers and songwriters to name but a few.

“And for a healthy democratic society, copyright is fundamental to publishers’ ability to invest in trusted quality journalism.

“The only thing which needs affirming is that these laws also apply to AI, and transparency requirements should be introduced to allow creators to understand when their content is being used.

“Instead, the government proposes to weaken the law and essentially make it legal to steal content.

“There will be no AI innovation without the high-quality content that is the essential fuel for AI models.”

“We’re appealing to the great British public to get behind our ‘Make It Fair’ campaign and call on the government to guarantee creatives are able to secure proper financial rewards from AI firms to ensure a sustainable future for both AI and the creative industries.”

Ed Newton-Rex, choral composer and founder of Fairly Trained, has launched a music industry campaign alongside Make It Fair.

His non-profit certifies generative AI companies that respect creators’ rights in training data.

He said: “One thousand UK musicians released a joint album today, recordings of empty studios, calling on the government to change course or risk empty studios becoming the norm.

“The government’s proposals would hand the life’s work of the UK’s talented creators – its musicians, its writers, its artists – to AI companies, for free.

“The government must change course and make it fair.”