In a significant policy reversal, the UK government has abandoned its preferred plan to allow artificial intelligence companies to freely use copyrighted books, music, and art for training their models. The decision, announced by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, follows intense criticism from leading artists and creative unions.

"We have listened," Kendall stated, confirming the government no longer backs a proposal that would have let tech firms use protected works unless creators explicitly opted out. The plan had drawn sharp condemnation from figures like Sir Elton John, Dua Lipa, and actor Julianne Moore, alongside thousands of other creators.

Creative industry groups hailed the shift. Actors' union Equity called the original plan an act of "national self-sabotage" that would have sold out UK talent to benefit large, often US-based, tech firms. Trade body UK Music expressed delight but urged ministers to rule out the opt-out model completely.

The debate centers on the immense datasets required to build advanced AI. These systems often ingest copyrighted material scraped from the web. While the government's consultation continues—exploring options from strict licensing to no rules at all—the immediate threat of an automatic opt-out system has receded.

Campaigners like composer Ed Newton-Rex warned the fight isn't over, noting the opt-out concept remains "on the table." The government also announced new measures, including a taskforce on AI content labeling and a review of protections against deepfakes.

An accompanying economic assessment outlined trade-offs: stricter rules might protect creators but could drive AI development overseas, while lax rules risk undermining the UK's competitive creative sector. The government's next move will define the balance between fostering innovation and protecting the intellectual property that fuels it.

Source: The Guardian