Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, is facing strong criticism after defending his controversial plan to exempt AI developers from copyright laws.
His stance has sparked accusations of being overly influenced by Big Tech companies, with many creatives voicing concerns about the potential damage to the UK’s thriving creative sector, worth £126 billion.
Allegations of Favoring Big Tech Over Creatives
Kyle’s comments today were met with a wave of anger from musicians, artists, and industry leaders, who warn that the proposal could severely harm their work.
Despite the mounting protests, including from high-profile figures like Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell, Kyle stood firm on his position.
He stated he would not let the creative sector pressure him into choosing sides, reinforcing his preference for a system that allows tech companies to use creators’ work unless they opt out.
While Kyle claims to be “open-minded,” his repeated insistence on the opt-out system has left many feeling that he is ignoring the concerns of the creative community.
Critics argue that he is prioritizing tech companies over the interests of artists.
Critics Say Kyle Is ‘Drinking the Kool-Aid’ of Silicon Valley
Baroness Kidron, a crossbench peer and vocal opponent of the proposal, criticized Kyle for allegedly bending to the influence of Silicon Valley lobbyists.
She accused him of “drinking the kool-aid” and ignoring the national interest in favor of Big Tech.
Singer-songwriter Mike Batt, another outspoken critic, called on Kyle to reconsider his position.
Batt argued that the current copyright system already offers sufficient protections for creators and that tech companies should simply obtain licenses to use creative works.
He emphasized that a “U-turn” would be the best course of action, urging Kyle to listen to reason rather than siding with the AI industry.
The Concerns of the Creative Sector
The creative industry, which employs over 2.4 million people in the UK, is deeply concerned about the proposed changes.
Tech companies have been using various creative works—such as books, news articles, films, and art—to train AI models.
Creators argue that they should be compensated for this use, but the government’s consultation proposes a change in the law that would allow tech platforms to use content without permission unless creators explicitly opt out.
This places a significant burden on artists and publishers to protect their own work from potential theft.
Under current law, creators automatically own the copyright to their work, but the new proposal would shift the responsibility onto them to ensure their content isn’t exploited by AI developers without compensation.
Kyle’s Meetings with Tech Companies Spark Further Criticism
Kyle has faced criticism for holding multiple meetings with tech industry representatives while failing to engage with leaders from the creative sector before announcing his preference for the opt-out system.
His critics argue that this lack of consultation with creatives further demonstrates his bias towards Big Tech.
In response, Kyle has pointed out that ministers with culture portfolios have been in talks with creative industry representatives.
However, many in the creative sector feel that these discussions have been insufficient, and that the government is moving forward with plans that will have a detrimental effect on their livelihoods.
The Department for Technology was approached for comment, but it has yet to respond.