Elton brands government 'losers' over AI copyright plans

Sir Elton John has expressed his deep frustration with the government regarding their recent plans concerning artificial intelligence, or AI. He has labeled the government as 'absolute losers' and conveyed feelings of being 'incredibly betrayed' over proposals that would allow technology companies to use artists' work without compensating them. In an exclusive interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Elton stated that if the government proceeds with these plans, it would amount to 'committing theft, thievery on a high scale. ' This week, the government dismissed suggestions from the House of Lords, which proposed that AI companies should disclose the materials they utilize to develop their programs. A government spokesperson indicated that 'no changes' to copyright laws would be considered unless they are entirely convinced that such changes would benefit creators. Generative AI programs learn from vast amounts of data, including text, images, and music available online, to produce new content that appears to be created by humans. Elton highlighted the 'danger' this poses for young artists, who often lack the resources to challenge large tech companies. He remarked, 'It's criminal, in that I feel incredibly betrayed. ' Elton pointed out that the House of Lords had voted overwhelmingly in favor of protecting artists, yet the government seemed to disregard their decision. He expressed his frustration by stating that the government appears to believe that older individuals like himself can afford to lose out financially. On Monday, the House of Lords voted by a significant majority to amend the Data (Use and Access) Bill, aiming to introduce transparency requirements that would ensure copyright holders must grant permission for their work to be utilized. However, on Wednesday, Members of Parliament in the House of Commons voted against this amendment, meaning the bill will continue to oscillate between the two Houses until a consensus is reached. Elton cautioned that the government is on a path to 'rob young people of their legacy and their income,' adding that he views the government as 'absolute losers' and is very angry about the situation. He urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to 'wise up' and criticized Technology Secretary Peter Kyle as 'a bit of a moron. ' Elton made it clear that if the government does not alter its plans, he is prepared to take legal action against ministers, stating, 'we'll fight it all the way. ' During the interview, Elton was joined by playwright James Graham, who remarked that while ministers do recognize the value of creativity, it is frustrating to see either complacency or a willingness to allow Silicon Valley tech companies to have their way. Tom Kiehl, the chief executive of UK music, conveyed to the BBC that the government is 'on the brink' of sacrificing the country's music industry to appease American tech giants. He emphasized that the prime minister must not allow the next generation of singers, songwriters, musicians, and music creators to be 'crushed' by permitting soulless AI bots to exploit their work. Prior to the vote in the House of Lords, Elton joined other artists in advocating for protections against AI. Sir Paul McCartney, another legendary musician, also signed a letter expressing concerns about the lack of proper copyright protection for artists. A government spokesperson stated that they aim for both the UK's creative industries and AI companies to thrive, which is why they are consulting on a set of measures that they hope will benefit both sectors. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of working through responses to a consultation on proposals that would allow developers to use creators' content unless rights holders choose to 'opt out. ' They added that it is equally crucial to lay the groundwork now as they consider the next steps. 'That is why we have committed to publishing a report and economic impact assessment, exploring the broad range of issues and options on all sides of the debate.