The UK Government has suffered a defeat in the House of Lords over its handling of copyright protection in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
In a key vote on the Data (Use and Access) Bill, peers voted 145 to 126, a majority of 19, in favour of amendments designed to safeguard the intellectual property of creatives from being used to train AI models without consent or compensation.
The defeat highlights growing concerns within Parliament over the unregulated use of copyrighted material by major tech firms, which deploy AI-powered web crawlers to harvest vast amounts of data from the internet.
Peers push back against AI copyright exploitation
The amendments were proposed by Baroness Kidron, a prominent digital rights campaigner, who argued that the measures would reinforce existing copyright laws, promote greater transparency, and establish a formal redress mechanism for rights holders.
The new provisions would ensure that:
- AI companies are explicitly subject to UK copyright law, regardless of where they are based.
- The names and owners of AI-powered web crawlers must be disclosed, removing the anonymity under which they currently operate.
- Copyright owners have visibility over when, where, and how their work is used in AI model training.
Lady Kidron stressed that these measures were necessary to protect the UK’s creative industries, which represent one of the country’s most valuable economic sectors.
She warned that without such protections, artists, musicians, writers, and publishers would see their work exploited without reward, undermining the sustainability of their industries.
“What we have before us is the most extraordinary sight of a Labour Government transferring wealth directly from 2.4 million individual creatives, SMEs, and UK brands on the promise of vague riches in the future,” she said.
“There is a role in our economy for AI… and there is an opportunity for growth in the combination of AI and creative industries, but this forced marriage on slave terms is not it.”
The amendments received cross-party backing, with Labour and Conservative peers rebelling against their respective front benches to support the changes.
Government’s AI policy under scrutiny
The defeat comes in response to a controversial proposal by the Government, which had suggested introducing an exemption to copyright law for “text and data mining”.
The exemption, currently under consultation until 25th February, would allow AI developers to scrape copyrighted content without permission, unless rights holders actively opted out.
Lady Kidron strongly criticised this approach, warning that an opt-out system would lead to widespread unauthorised use of intellectual property, stripping creatives of their livelihoods.
“The Government’s stated preferred option of an ‘opt-out’ system would simply give away other people’s living and their VAT contribution to the Treasury and with it the jobs, joy, and soft power of our creative industries that our country relies on globally.”
Support from leading figures in the creative industry
The fight against AI-driven copyright exploitation has gained the backing of some of the UK’s most influential artists and cultural figures.
Among those who have signed a petition in support of the amendments are:
- Sir Paul McCartney
- Sir Elton John
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Jeanette Winterson
- Kate Moss
- Sir Simon Rattle
- Richard Osman
- Kate Bush
Their collective intervention highlights the widespread concern within the creative sector about AI companies profiting from unlicensed use of artistic works.
Media and press freedom concerns
Backing the amendments, Lord Black of Brentwood, deputy chairman of Telegraph Media Group, warned that the Government’s failure to regulate AI data scraping could have dire consequences for journalism and press freedom.
“An effective, enforceable, and comprehensive copyright regime is absolutely fundamental to the sustainability of a free, independent media. Without it, the media cannot survive.”
He added that without adequate protections, transparency, and compensation, publishers would be unable to invest in high-quality investigative journalism, which is vital for democracy and holding those in power to account.
Lord Black also expressed disappointment in the Conservative leadership, accusing them of failing to uphold their long-standing commitment to press freedom and media sustainability.
“It is incredibly short-sighted.”
Government response: Caution and consultation
Technology minister Lord Vallance of Balham defended the Government’s cautious approach, insisting that a measured, evidence-based policy was necessary.
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He acknowledged the concerns of creatives and rights holders, stating:
“Rest assured, the Government understands the very strong and legitimate concern which creators and right-holders have about how their content is used by the AI sector and how powerless they often feel.”
However, he warned that rushing into legislative changes without thorough assessment could lead to unintended consequences.
“Legislating on transparency, web crawlers, watermarks, or other issues without evidence on their impact or the type of technologies, oversight, and enforcement needed to make them work would be premature.”
Next steps and political implications
With the Government’s consultation on AI copyright exemptions ongoing, the Lords’ defeat signals strong opposition to unrestricted AI data mining.
Shadow technology minister Viscount Camrose indicated that Labour will closely monitor the consultation’s outcome, warning that if the Government’s response is inadequate, the issue will be revisited.
“Given the importance of getting this right, our view is that the Government’s consultation is in mid-flight, and we have to allow it to do its work… That said, we will take a great interest in its progress and outcome.”
The Government now faces pressure to rethink its approach, with creatives, media organisations, and cross-party politicians demanding stronger safeguards against AI-driven copyright exploitation.
As AI technology continues to evolve, the battle over intellectual property rights in the digital age is likely to remain a contentious and high-stakes issue in UK politics.
