Devon Artists Voice Concerns About Proposed AI Law Changes
Artists in Devon are raising concerns about proposed government changes to copyright law, fearing the alterations could make it easier for Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies to utilize their work without compensation.
The proposed changes, put forward by the government, would allow AI developers to use creators’ content found online to train their models unless the rights holders actively choose to ‘opt out’.
The Devon Artist Network expressed its deep worries about the proposals, with illustrator Sarah McIntyre highlighting the potentially ‘disastrous’ impacts on her work.
“We’ve always owned our work, that’s just a part of British law. I made this, it’s mine and I can earn money from it and if someone else copies it then that’s against the law,” McIntyre explained. “But now they are saying everything we’ve ever created, all our artwork, we have to go back and opt out of it being used to train AI.”
A consultation on the plans, conducted by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has concluded. A spokesperson has stated that no final decisions have been made at this time.
McIntyre has written to Mel Stride, the Conservative MP for Central Devon, seeking assistance. Stride acknowledged the ‘significant opportunities for innovation and economic growth’ presented by AI but also recognized that the government was ‘putting the creative industries at risk’.
“Labour must press pause on its rushed consultation and rethink its approach to harness the benefits of AI without compromising the success of our creative industries,” he added.
Avenda Burnell Walsh, also representing the Devon Artist Network, stated the group’s firm opposition to the plans. She drew an analogy to illustrate the point.
“My car is parked on the road all night and day in the public domain but I wouldn’t expect to have to say to somebody legally you can’t have this car it’s mine. You shouldn’t have to say that about your art either, should you?”
However, the potential changes may offer some benefits to artists, according to Mike Phillips, a professor of interdisciplinary arts at the University of Plymouth. He suggested that AI could be used to help artists track down copyright infringements.
“It would be nice if some of the effort put into ripping stuff off was put into tracking stuff down. That is something AI is good at, identifying things and recognising patterns in things and so maybe that would allow artists to use AI and seek the benefits from it.”
DSIT has indicated it will carefully consider submissions made by the creative industries during the consultation process. The department stated that the UK’s current framework for copyright and AI is ‘holding back the creative industries, media and AI sector from realising their full potential – and that cannot continue’ and stressed that ‘no decisions have been taken’ yet.
