Amendment Success: UK House of Lords Supports AI Bill Change Thanks to Peer Vote

UK House of Lords backs amendment to AI bill thanks to peer vote

The UK government faced pushback from the House of Lords regarding its AI bill, specifically around the issue of training AIs using copyrighted materials. The proposed bill suggested allowing AI training on copyrighted works unless the owners explicitly objected, a move criticized for being overly burdensome.

While the government argued that such restrictions hampered artistic and technological progress, many viewed it as a tactic to avoid compensating creators for their work. Concerns over ownership of intellectual property have been growing, with instances like the Sarah Silverman vs. Meta court case highlighting the challenges posed by AI-generated content.

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Amendment to the Bill

Prior to the House of Lords vote, prominent artists including Paul McCartney, Jeanette Winterson, Dua Lipa, and the Royal Shakespeare Company protested the bill, urging the government to reject it. The opposition led to an amendment proposed by crossbench peer Beeban Kidron, requiring AI companies to disclose the copyrighted materials utilized in their AI models.

Lady Kidron expressed the sentiment that creators should not be expected to develop AI using their work without compensation, emphasizing the economic and cultural value of the creative industry. Despite government resistance, the amendment passed with 272 votes to 125.

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Ensuring Recognition for Creators

The amendment aims to provide transparency regarding the use of copyrighted materials in AI models, offering creators a means to identify if their work has been incorporated. By mandating acknowledgment of the materials used in AI training, the amendment seeks to provide due credit to creators.

However, concerns remain regarding the honesty of AI companies in their reporting and the potential for legal loopholes to circumvent the amendment in the future.

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