Why Lords are defending creatives over new AI bill

Strange to say, but a government with a Commons majority of 156 is somehow in danger of losing one of its more important pieces of legislation.

- SEAN O'GRADY

The Data (Use and Access) Bill is commonly called the “data bill” or “AI bill” because it is central to the regulation of the new world of artificial intelligence; indeed, it is the first act of parliament specifically designed to deal with it.

After breezing its way through the Commons, it has encountered unexpectedly stiff resistance in the House of Lords. Peers have five times rejected parts of the bill, and unless the government is prepared to compromise, the AI bill will have to be abandoned.

Why is the AI bill in trouble?

There are a lot of complicated parliamentary shenanigans involved, but at issue is the right of artists, creatives, authors – and, indeed, journalists – to own and make a living out of their work. Elton John, Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Dua Lipa and Paul McCartney are just a few members of a formidable coalition of interests who want to stop AI giants “scraping” their work, undermining their livelihoods, and potentially killing the whole sector.