Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Eleventh Report - Connected tech: AI and creative technology
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
HC 1643
Published 30 August 2023
Recommendations
1
Accepted
Para 19
Clarify how non-tech sector regulators will build AI expertise and ensure joined-up working.
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s sensible proposals for regulating AI, including taking a sectoral approach underpinned by six cross-sector principles. However, there are outstanding weaknesses with this approach that the Government should clarify, including ensuring that sector regulators who do not …
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Government Response Summary
The government recognises the need for central coordination for AI regulation and has already established a central risk function and is implementing a coordination function across government departments, with further details to be provided in their response to the white paper consultation.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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2
Acknowledged
Para 20
Set out a plan to upskill and resource non-digital sector regulators for the AI regime.
Recommendation
The Government should set out a plan to provide upskilling and resourcing for non- digital sector regulators to ensure they can meet the needs of the new cross-sector regulatory regime for AI.
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the need for central coordination and states it is establishing a central risk function and implementing a coordination function. It will provide further details in a forthcoming response to the white paper consultation.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3
Deferred
Para 21
Establish a discrete AI regulation co-ordination unit within Whitehall to publish regular progress reports.
Recommendation
The Government has announced that it intends to take on a central support role to buttress the regime for AI regulation and provide cross-sector cohesion. The Government should establish a discrete AI regulation co-ordination unit within Whitehall to ensure coherent …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses implementing and ratifying the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances and exploring stronger protections against the misuse of performers' likenesses, but does not address the recommendation to establish a discrete AI regulation co-ordination unit or publish regular reports.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5
Deferred
Para 31
Cease pursuing broad text and data mining copyright exemption; promote strong licensing schemes.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government does not pursue plans for a broad text and data mining exemption to copyright. Instead, the Government should proactively support small AI developers in particular, who may find difficulties in acquiring licences, by reviewing how …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on implementing the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances and addressing deepfakes, rather than directly addressing the recommendation concerning text and data mining copyright exemptions, licensing schemes, or a strong copyright regime for AI content.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6
Deferred
Para 32
Regain creative industries' trust; ensure transparency, recourse, and redress for AI use.
Recommendation
The Government must work to regain the trust of the creative industries following its abortive attempt to introduce a broad text and data mining exemption. The Government should consider how creatives can ensure transparency and, if necessary, recourse and redress …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response addresses the implementation of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances and issues like deepfakes, sidestepping the recommendation to regain trust with creative industries and consider transparency and redress for wrongful AI use of creative works.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7
Accepted
Provide substantive update by year-end on managing AI's impact on creative industries.
Recommendation
The Government’s initial handing of the text and data mining exemption to copyright for AI development, though eventually correct, shows a clear lack of understanding of the needs of the UK’s creative industries. All branches of Government need to better …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights its existing Creative Industries Sector Vision and significant investments, including over £300 million in growth support and £75 million for the CoSTAR programme, to drive innovation and technology in the creative industries. It also mentions ongoing assessments and being informed by a Council for Science and Technology report.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10
Accepted
Para 55
Urgently clarify the scope and timescale for the Cultural Education Plan.
Recommendation
The Government’s Cultural Education Plan Expert Advisory Panel has only recently been appointed, almost a year after the appointment of its chair and well over six months after Government said it would appoint its members. We have serious misgivings about …
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Government Response Summary
The government clarified the scope and five objectives of the Cultural Education Plan, outlining the types of organisations it will cover. It committed to publishing the Plan "in the coming months."
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11
Accepted in Part
Improve protections for creatives from generative AI misuse by urgently ratifying the Beijing Treaty.
Recommendation
The rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence and the impact this is already having on the ability of artists to protect their moral rights means that urgent action is necessary. The Government should improve protections for creatives to prevent misuse …
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Government Response Summary
The government committed to implementing and ratifying the Beijing Treaty, expecting it to come into force in late 2024, fulfilling the request for ratification. However, for broader protections against AI misuse of likeness, it will only "explore the case for stronger protections" due to the Treaty's limitations.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Conclusions (3)
4
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 30
We are pleased that the Government has been listening to stakeholders on text and data mining intellectual property for commercial benefit and we are encouraged that Ministers are looking again at this. The current framework, which provides an exemption for text and data mining for non-commercial research purposes and otherwise …
Government Response Summary
The government responds by discussing its commitment to implementing the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, which relates to moral rights for performers and deepfakes, and not to the committee's observation on text and data mining intellectual property.
8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 49
While institutions are understandably investing in products such as the metaverse and generative AI, this should not be to the exclusion of novel and emerging technologies, which are enabling artists to innovate and attract audiences. In order to encourage a rich and diverse cultural and creative technology ecosystem, the Government …
Government Response Summary
The government outlines the five objectives and scope of its forthcoming Cultural Education Plan, which aims to support high-quality cultural education for children and young people and strengthen talent pipelines, and will be published in the coming months.
9
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 54
As we have repeatedly raised, the tech sector and creative industries are experiencing long-standing skills and personnel shortages that have capped the potential for growth. The Government’s forthcoming Cultural Education Plan should explicitly discuss how educators can combine digital skills provision with creative and cultural education to nurture the next …
Government Response Summary
The government outlines the objectives of its Cultural Education Plan, including strengthening talent pipelines into cultural and creative sectors, and states the plan will be published in the coming months. However, it does not explicitly commit to detailing how educators will combine digital and creative skills provision as requested.