UK newspapers blanket their covers to protest loss of AI protections | The Verge

Protest Against AI Copyright Weakening

Major UK newspapers used identical blue front pages to protest government proposals that would allow AI companies to use copyrighted material for training without permission.

The "Make It Fair" Campaign

This initiative, backed by the News Media Association (NMA) and the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, calls for fair compensation for creators whose work is used to train AI models. The campaign highlights the threat to the UK's creative industry, valued at $152 billion.

Government Consultation and Criticism

The protest coincides with the close of a government consultation on copyright exceptions for AI training. The proposed changes have drawn widespread criticism for potentially devastating the creative sector. Many, including the BBC, have voiced concerns about the lack of fair compensation and proper controls.

Further Actions

Alongside the newspaper protest, over 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush and Damon Albarn, released a silent album called "Is This What We Want?" to further express their opposition.

Key Arguments

• AI companies should fairly compensate creators for using their copyrighted work.
• Weakening copyright protections threatens the UK's creative industries.
• Current proposals lack adequate protection for creators and proper controls.

The government will use the consultation responses to inform policy changes, suggesting that alterations to copyright law are likely.