Peers Vote to Defy Government Over Copyright Threat From AI

Defiant peers have delivered an ultimatum to the government to offer artists copyright protection against artificial intelligence or risk losing a key piece of legislation.

- Eleni Courea

The government suffered a fifth defeat in the Lords over controversial plans to allow AI firms to train their models using copyrighted material. Peers voted by 221 to 116 yesterday for an amendment to force the firms to be transparent about what material they use to train their models.

The move prolongs a lengthy standoff between the Commons and Lords over the data bill, which has been used as a vehicle by campaigners to oppose the government's proposed copyright reforms.

Resistance to the changes in the Lords has been led by Beeban Kidron, a cross-bench peer and film director, whose amendments have been repeatedly backed. The data bill now faces the prospect of being shelved unless the Commons accepts the Kidron amendment or proposes an alternative proposal.

Maggie Jones, the Lords minister for the digital economy and online safety, had urged peers to vote against the amendment after the government offered last-minute concessions in an attempt to stave off another defeat.