On October 28, 2024, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the rising concerns regarding artificial intelligence's impact on copyright and journalism. He committed to ensuring that news organizations receive compensation for the use of their work by AI technologies. Starmer emphasized that journalism is 'the soul of democracy' and vowed to protect it against the encroachment of large tech companies.
Starmer's remarks come as tech firms warn that the UK risks falling behind unless they are allowed to utilize copyrighted material for training AI models. He acknowledged the potential of AI to undermine press freedom while asserting the importance of news and creative industries for economic growth.
In his speech launching the 'Journalism Matters' campaign by the News Media Association, Starmer underscored the necessity for publishers to maintain control over their content and seek remuneration. He stated, 'We must remain vigilant to ensure that the growing power of digital technology does not begin to undermine them.'
In the United States, The New York Times is currently engaged in a legal battle with Microsoft and OpenAI regarding the use of its extensive archives. Conversely, News Corp, the parent company of The Times, has reached an agreement with OpenAI to allow the use of its content on platforms like ChatGPT.
Starmer reiterated his government's commitment to accountability and highlighted the resilience of UK journalism, noting the existence of 900 local and national titles as a 'remarkable strength' in the media landscape.