The UK government is considering changes to copyright law that would allow AI companies to train their models on artists’ work without permission. This means that AI-generated images could be built using artwork taken from real artists without credit, payment, or consent.
As both a programmer and a hobbyist artist, I support AI, but I believe it should be developed ethically, respecting the rights of creators. That’s why I wrote to my MP to voice my concerns. Below is the email I sent, explaining why these changes would be harmful to the UK’s creative industry and what a fairer approach could look like.
My name is Ben, and I am a programmer and hobbyist artist. I am deeply concerned about the government’s recent suggestion to change copyright laws in a way that would allow AI models to be trained on artists’ work without their consent.
As a programmer, I support AI and its potential, despite legitimate concerns about its environmental impact, which I believe will improve over time. However, I strongly object to the use of artists’ work in AI training without permission.
An opt-out system is not a viable solution. Once an AI model has been trained on an artist’s work, it cannot “unlearn” it. The only way to remove such data would be to scrap the entire training set and start from scratch - something AI companies are highly unlikely to do.
The UK government itself recognises that the UK’s creative industries are worth over £124 billion. This sector is a major driver of our economy, yet these proposed changes threaten to undermine it. We should be encouraging artists to continue creating, not allowing their work to be taken without consent so that others can profit from it for free.
I love both art and technology and want to see them thrive, especially here in the UK. But this process is already harming creative jobs, and legalising it would only make things worse.
I urge you to oppose these proposed changes. A simple solution would be to make participation opt-in rather than opt-out. Even better, AI companies could pay artists to create work specifically for training purposes. That way, we could support both technological progress and the creative industry.
I appreciate your time and hope you will consider standing against these changes.
Best regards, Ben
If you’re in the UK then please consider contacting your MP to voice your concerns. You can find their contact details on the UK Parliament website. Additionally, I encourage you to share this message with fellow creators to raise awareness about the importance of ethical AI development.
There is also a website signed by a large contingent of artists and creators, including many names you will recognise, that you can sign here.
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