Elton John calls for UK copyright rules rethink to protect creators from AI
Sir Elton John has called on the government to rethink proposals involving the relaxation of copyright rules in the hope of protecting creative talent from AI,The singer and songwriter is among a growing list of public figures to express concerns about plans that would allow tech firms to use online material, including creative work, for AI without permission,Under current government proposals, creators would need to opt out of their work being used, however some of the campaign’s advocates, including Simon Cowell and the author Kate Mosse, have called for an opt-in system to be put in place,“We only achieved that success with the backing of our longstanding copyright protection – the world’s gold standard,” John told the Daily Mail, while highlighting the industry’s impact on creating jobs and economic growth,“The music community has always been quick to adopt new technologies … but adoption of this copyright exception would destroy the UK’s leadership that has been hard won, and what’s worse, it would give it all away.
For nothing.”Last month, John backed Paul McCartney in criticising a proposed overhaul of the UK copyright system, and has called for new rules to prevent tech companies from riding “roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods”.Similarly, Cowell said a failure to regulate AI properly risked artists and people working behind the scenes “being wiped out”.“The thought that anyone would believe they have the right to blindly give this country’s creative ideas away – for nothing – is just wrong,” he wrote in the Mail.“I passionately care about people’s personal creativity – and AI shouldn’t be able to steal the talent of those humans who created the magic in the first place.
“Anyone who is able to create something they passionately care about deserves to have their work protected.”Other figures supporting the campaign include the singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading and the Bafta-winning composer Nick Foster.Sign up to First EditionOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersafter newsletter promotionMany figures in the music world have spoken out about AI’s threat to creativity, with artists including Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder signing an open letter last year calling for protections against the predatory use of artificial intelligence.The letter, issued by the Artist Rights Alliance advocacy group, broadly called for tech companies to pledge not to develop AI tools that could replace or undermine human songwriters and artists.Separately, Nick Cave called lyrics written by ChatGPT “a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human” in 2023.
However, Daniel Bedingfield took the opposite view, and called AI the future of music.“AI is now here for ever,” he said last year.“And so I think that there will be two paths: there’ll be the neo-luddite path, and then there’ll be everyone else, most of the planet, who thinks the music’s really good and enjoys it.”
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Elton John calls for UK copyright rules rethink to protect creators from AI
Sir Elton John has called on the government to rethink proposals involving the relaxation of copyright rules in the hope of protecting creative talent from AI.The singer and songwriter is among a growing list of public figures to express concerns about plans that would allow tech firms to use online material, including creative work, for AI without permission.Under current government proposals, creators would need to opt out of their work being used, however some of the campaign’s advocates, including Simon Cowell and the author Kate Mosse, have called for an opt-in system to be put in place.“We only achieved that success with the backing of our longstanding copyright protection – the world’s gold standard,” John told the Daily Mail, while highlighting the industry’s impact on creating jobs and economic growth.“The music community has always been quick to adopt new technologies … but adoption of this copyright exception would destroy the UK’s leadership that has been hard won, and what’s worse, it would give it all away
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Your article (Microsoft unveils chip it says could bring quantum computing within years, 19 February) said that this new class of computers, unlike current machines, will be “based on quantum mechanics rather than classical physics”. While the Babbage machines might be described as using classical physics, I firmly believe there are elements of quantum physics involved in the tablet on which I am writing this.Prof Stephen HollowayLiverpool Even better than Clare Finney’s suggestions (‘The classiest gift I’ve heard of’: what to bring to a dinner party (that isn’t wine or chocolates), 19 February), I think, is to arrange for flowers to be delivered two days earlier so the host has time to arrange them before the day of the dinner party. Arriving with a bunch clutched in your hot little hand and giving the host yet another task is not classy at all.Heather ParryWatford, Hertfordshire It isn’t going to bed that is the problem, Emma Beddington (Why is it so hard to go to bed? Maybe science has the answer, 16 February), but getting up in the mornings – any ideas?Carolyn MartinMawnan Smith, Cornwall Given that the KGB ceased to exist in 1991, it is a testament to its resourcefulness that one of its agents targeted a Tory MP in 2022 (Report, 20 February)
Apple removes advanced data protection tool in face of UK government request
Apple has taken the unprecedented step of removing its strongest data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded “backdoor” access to user data.UK users will no longer have access to the advanced data protection (ADP) tool, which uses end-to-end encryption to allow only account holders to view items such as photos or documents they have stored online in the iCloud storage service.Apple said it was “gravely disappointed” that it would no longer be able to offer the security feature to British customers, after the UK government asked for the right to see the data.It said the removal of the tool would make users more vulnerable to data breaches from bad actors, and other threats to customer privacy. It would also mean all data was accessible by Apple, which could share it with law enforcement if they had a warrant
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