The government is looking to change the law to favour big tech platforms so they can use British creative content to power their AI models without our permission or payment. Let’s protect the creative industries – it’s only fair
Dear reader,
The Mirror has always been for the people. Over the past 122 years we’ve used our campaigning journalism to expose wrongdoing and to explore and explain the ever-changing world. One change you will have read about on our pages is the emergence of artificial intelligence, or AI.
It’s a big, exciting development that has amazing potential for the human race. But, like all change on this scale, it also brings dangers.
One of those dangers affects us, the media. And, as a result, it affects you.
A proposed overhaul of the UK’s copyright law will, we believe, put too much power in the hands of technology firms.
That risks undermining the good work we do, on your behalf, every day.
Unless changes are made, tech billionaires, often in far away countries, will be allowed to take the work of British artists, journalists and authors without paying for it.
This is bad for journalism and it’s bad for you. A healthy media is an essential part of a fair and democratic society. We support positive technological change and we embrace innovation. But the law must protect what is most important and pave a responsible way forward.
We are urging the Labour government not to side with big tech on this. And we are appealing to you to get behind the Make it Fair campaign by writing to your MP to urge them to back the creative industries. Too much is at stake.
Caroline Waterston Editor-in-Chief, Mirror.
