Albanese government considers letting AI firms train on Australian creators' work
The Albanese government may let AI firms use Australian creators' work without permission. This would attract tech investment to the country.
Senior personnel from OpenAI met with Labor ministers this week and warned that Australia's copyright laws block the company from training its models locally. Internal government proposals titled "AI on Australian Terms" would let AI firms access unprotected online material by default, shifting the burden to creators who would need to prevent their work from being used.
Independent senator David Pocock tabled these documents in parliament on Tuesday. He said the compromise throws creatives "under the bus" to pursue datacentre funding.
The proposals would require creators to "digitally protect" their material to keep AI firms out. Rights holders say this is unfeasible.
Labor's deputy prime minister Richard Marles said working with frontier tech companies was "a significant moment for the country". Industry minister Tim Ayres insisted the new AI rules would "in no way" reduce copyright protection.
- Tuesday
- Tabled in Senate
- David Pocock, independent
- Proposing senator
- Senior OpenAI staff, Labor ministers
- Meeting participants
- Digital protection by creators
- Protection method required
Why it mattersIf adopted, this policy could let AI firms use Australian journalists', musicians', and artists' work for training without permission or payment. This would reshape copyright law in Australia.
AustraliaAustralian creators and small media outlets face potential loss of control over their content if the government shifts the copyright default from "no use without permission" to "use unless you block it".
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