Aston Merrygold Urges UK Government to Protect Creators from AI Exploitation and Preserve Creative Rights in the Digital Era

As a musician, actor, and content creator, I’ve witnessed the rapid evolution of the creative industry, especially in the digital world.

Sitting in my office, surrounded by my signed CDs, platinum discs, and awards from my time with JLS, it’s hard not to reflect on how far things have come.

Looking back at my journey, from finishing second on The X Factor in 2008 to performing around the world, I’ve been lucky to live a dream I once thought was impossible.

However, today, my role has changed. While I’m still involved in music, I’ve embraced the world of digital content.

With over a million followers on TikTok and half a million on Instagram, I’m not just a musician anymore.

I’m now also an influencer, producing music, sketches, and other creative content.

And while this offers exciting opportunities, it also comes with a looming threat—artificial intelligence.

The Growth of the Creator Economy

The rise of influencers and content creators has transformed the creative industry.

Despite some skepticism about digital content creators, the numbers show just how important the creator economy has become.

According to Oxford Economics, platforms like TikTok and YouTube contributed over £3 billion to the UK economy in 2022 alone.

More than eight million people in the UK now identify as content creators, contributing not only through their own revenue from product sales and partnerships but also by boosting local economies.

For me, this shift has been eye-opening. What started as a way to maintain an online presence during my music career turned into something much more.

During the lockdowns of the Covid pandemic, I began posting more on TikTok, engaging with fans in a way I hadn’t before.

The commercial opportunities followed, and I was able to create content, connect with fans, and earn a living—all while spending time with my family.

The Threat of AI to Creative Content

However, now that I’ve found success in the digital world, that success is under threat.

AI technology is rapidly evolving, and as this newspaper has highlighted, it’s being used to scrape content from creators like me to train AI models.

If the UK government changes copyright laws to allow AI to use our content without consent, the consequences could be catastrophic.

For musicians, authors, and even digital influencers, this would mean our content, faces, and brands could be stolen and repurposed without permission or compensation.

Already, AI-generated influencers are emerging on social platforms, looking and acting like real people, but they are simply digital creations.

These AI personalities are growing in popularity, with some even amassing millions of followers.

AI’s Impact on Content Creation and Economic Loss

What’s more concerning is the practice of ‘scraping,’ where AI extracts data from websites and repurposes it for other platforms.

This impacts creators by reducing our engagement, followers, and income.

As someone who’s worked in music for years, I remember the struggles of dealing with copyright infringement and piracy.

In the early days of streaming, we were worried about how low payouts from services like Spotify would affect our earnings.

But those concerns seem minimal compared to the potential of AI to completely disrupt our industry.

AI might seem like a cutting-edge tool, but it’s not without consequences for creators. It’s crucial that we protect the rights of those who contribute to the creative landscape.

Without proper regulation, AI could erode the livelihoods of musicians, actors, and influencers alike.

The Call for Government Action

I urge the UK government to recognize the significance of protecting creative rights in the age of AI.

While my platinum discs may be a thing of the past, the work I do as a content creator is just as important to me now as it ever was.

This industry is not only vital for the economy but also for the well-being and creative expression of countless individuals.

If AI is allowed to plunder content without regulation, the entire creator economy could collapse.

It’s time for action before it’s too late.

Aston Merrygold is a musician, actor, content creator, and former member of the boy band JLS.