Creative Industries: Artificial Intelligence

Mrs Sarah Russell (Congleton) (Lab) asked the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, Chris Bryant, about his recent discussions with representatives of the creative industries on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI). In his response, the Minister stated that he has had many meetings with the creative industries, and they have raised the issue of AI at every single one. He made it clear that human creativity deserves remuneration, and that the rights of artists, musicians, publishers, and journalists need to be protected as the benefits of AI are harnessed. Mrs Russell followed up, expressing concern about AI-generated creations, known as "deepfakes," that can lead to financial and reputational damage for musicians and other creatives. She highlighted that the most common AI-generated deepfakes are non-consensual sexual depictions of women, and asked how the Government plans to ensure that creatives, as well as women and girls, are adequately protected from the misappropriation of their voice, image, name, and likeness. The Minister acknowledged the importance of this issue, stating that the legislation in this area is not easy, but the Government is determined to look into it. He noted that it is already a criminal offence to share an intimate image without consent, whether real or synthetically generated, and the Government will deliver on its manifesto commitment to ban the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes. Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP) then intervened, emphasizing the importance of the creative industries in Strangford and across Northern Ireland, and asked if the Minister had the opportunity to speak to the relevant Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that any measures to protect women and girls also apply in Northern Ireland. The Minister responded positively, stating that he is keen to talk to his counterpart in Northern Ireland about this subject, as some of the areas being discussed are devolved. Finally, Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con), the shadow Minister, expressed concerns that the Government might give away the intellectual property of the creative industries. He asked the Minister to confirm that he will not give away intellectual property through an exemption, assure the House that he will not implement the EU's approach, which has flaws, and commit to holding a summit between the tech and creative industries to explore licensing and other models. The Minister responded by emphasizing the importance of protecting intellectual property, and stated that the Government has already had two meetings with representatives from the creative industries and tech companies, and is keen to move forward to a proper resolution that satisfies the needs of both sectors.