Dinenage highlights AI legislation ‘concerns’

The chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Caroline Dinenage has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, raising concerns that the government may intend to revive controversial AI legislation.

The last government proposed and then dropped a copyright exception, allowing companies to use existing music, literature and works of art to train AI.

In a letter to Nandy, Dinenage said she is concerned about recent comments that a “new law may be needed to end Al copyright dispute”.

“I have deep concerns that the new government is now seeking to resurrect this flawed notion of a [text and data mining exception], which would remove any motivation tech companies would otherwise have to work with the creative industries to devise commercial models that safeguard the incentives and reward for human creativity in the Al era,” the letter states.

“The only thing government actually needs to do in this area is oblige tech companies to be transparent about the creative work they are using to train their systems so that the two ‘sides’ (creative and tech) can get around the table and discuss commercial models.

“While embracing the opportunities of Al we must be confident that we are not undermining our cultural and creative industries, which are so fundamental to the success of our national economy and our soft power across the world.”