UPDATE: In a startling address, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller has issued an urgent warning regarding the potential consequences of artificial intelligence on Australian culture and copyright laws. Speaking at the Melbourne Press Club on October 25, 2023, Miller described the current situation as a second “big steal” that threatens the very fabric of Australia’s creative identity.
Miller cautioned that if the government does not resist pressures from big tech companies, Australia could face a profound loss of its cultural narrative. “Those who believe that we should give up our intellectual property to large language models cannot be allowed to take us for fools again,” he asserted, emphasizing the risks posed by AI bots that indiscriminately consume content without proper compensation or acknowledgment.
As AI technology advances rapidly, Miller highlighted that Australians, who are among the world’s top users of AI tools, stand to lose significantly. “There will be less media, less Australian voices, and less Australian stories,” he warned. He likened this erosion of cultural identity to a video game scenario, dubbing it “Grand Theft Australia.”
Miller called on all media companies to unite in demanding that the federal government maintain the integrity of the Copyright Act. He strongly rejected claims from the tech industry suggesting that data sheds, which could bring billions into Australia, would only materialize if copyright protections were weakened.
“The Copyright Act provides the holder with the right to control, agree to terms, be paid, and enforce breaches,” he stated. “It is perfectly able to deal with AI companies wanting to negotiate.” He urged the government to avoid exploring alternative mechanisms that could similarly undermine Australia’s creative industries.
Miller’s address also included a plea for the government to fulfill its commitment to the NewsMAP media assistance program, enact the news media bargaining code, and implement a social license for tech companies. “AI offers extraordinary possibilities to journalism, but it could destroy our industry if it is allowed to hoover up all our work,” he said.
As the debate around AI’s impact on copyright continues to escalate, the call for immediate action is clear. The ramifications of these decisions will not only affect media companies but also the broader Australian public, as the cultural landscape of the nation hangs in the balance.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
