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UK AI data bill teeters on collapse after fifth Lords defeat

Prominent artists urge ministers to force AI developers to declare copyrighted works used in model training

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Sir Elton John said ministers were treating artists like idiots over the bill

Overview

  • The government suffered its fifth defeat in the House of Lords over an amendment that would oblige AI firms to disclose and license copyrighted material used in training models.
  • Sir Elton John called on ministers to add transparency and full-permission provisions to the bill, branding Labour the “ostrich party” for ignoring creative sector warnings.
  • Peers led by Baroness Kidron backed the amendment by 221 votes to 116, aiming to commit the government to table a bill forcing AI companies to declare the copyrighted works they have used.
  • The £126 billion creative industry employing 2.4 million people warns that unregulated AI training amounts to “theft on a grand scale” and threatens artists’ livelihoods.
  • Ministers are reviewing responses to a consultation on the copyright shake-up before deciding whether to accept, adjust or reject the Lords’ transparency demands in the Commons next week.