UK Unions Call for Urgent Action to Shield Creative Workers from AI
Unions across the UK are demanding immediate government action to protect workers in the creative industries as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to develop and reshape the technological landscape. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) asserts that current UK law is falling short of adequately addressing the challenges and potential exploitation arising from the rapid proliferation of AI in the workplace.
The TUC emphasized the urgent need for “proper guardrails” to protect a wide range of workers, including artists, writers, journalists, teachers, and academics. The union organization has criticized the government’s proposed copyright and AI framework, currently under consultation, arguing that the proposals do not go far enough to safeguard creative workers from exploitation.
The TUC is pushing for increased transparency in AI training data, ensuring that workers are informed if their data or likeness is being used. They also advocate for an opt-in system to prevent the commercial data mining of creative work without explicit permission and fair payment for instances where creative work is used to train AI models.
The transformative potential of AI was huge, but without adequate regulation, “rapacious tech bosses” would be able to exploit creative workers and cash in on their work.
Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, stated, “AI has huge transformative potential – and if regulated properly, workers could benefit from the productivity gains created by this technology. UK law is simply failing to keep pace with the rapid speed of technological change and proliferation of AI at work. Writers, actors, performers, teachers, journalists and other creatives must have a say over how their work and image is used, and they must be paid fairly.”
The TUC has proposed the establishment of a new taskforce involving creative workers, unions, technologists, and government representatives to manage the risks and maximize the opportunities presented by AI. They are urging the government to amend current proposals to provide stronger protections for creative workers, safeguarding the future of these vital industries, which are a critical component of the UK economy.
Paul Fleming, the general secretary of the Equity union, added, “The industrial-scale theft of performers’ and artists’ work by big tech must stop. Equity’s groundbreaking TV and film negotiations show that empowering workers can help deal with the challenges of AI. The government’s proposals undermine an entire industry – bosses and workers alike – and threaten the efficacy of bargained solutions through unquestioning support of big tech. The government should embrace this AI manifesto in place of their misguided proposals and recognise that it is people who make our creative industries successful.”
Emma Reeves, the chair of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, expressed concern that writers’ work is already being stolen on an industrial scale to train AI systems without permission or payment, infringing established copyright protections. “Without stronger protections for writers, big tech could be allowed to take what they like, when they like, without any requirement to share the profits with writers or other creators. This will not only harm creators themselves, but will likely deal a serious blow to the emerging AI market and harm the creative industries too,” she explained. Alternatively, she noted that the voluntary licensing of work for AI training offers a potential for growth.
Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology, acknowledged the complexities of the situation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to finding a solution that protects creators. He stated, “Securing Britain’s future as an AI leader and safeguarding the rights and rewards of people at work must go hand in hand as we navigate the complex and challenging technological revolution facing us all. Our consultation into AI and copyright closed this week and we are now considering the full range of the thousands of responses we have received. Let me be absolutely clear – no changes will be considered unless I am completely satisfied that we are delivering a solution which works for creators. That is my firm red line.”
