APRA AMCOS supports Senate report on AI impact in Australia

APRA AMCOS has welcomed a recent report by the Senate Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, highlighting critical recommendations aimed at safeguarding Australian creators from the challenges posed by AI technologies.

The report underscores the urgent requirement for regulatory frameworks to protect intellectual property and ensure the ethical use of AI within Australia's creative industries. It addresses the concerns of various creators, including musicians, songwriters, and composers, whose livelihoods could be affected by unregulated AI advancements.

Dean Ormston, Chief Executive Officer of APRA AMCOS, praised the Committee for acknowledging the potential adverse impacts of AI on creative sector workers and for outlining steps to address these challenges. "The Senate report makes an important contribution to ensuring the future of Australia's creative industries," Ormston says. "By acknowledging the significant harm generative AI can cause - both economically and culturally - the recommendations offer a pathway to protecting the creators who form the cultural backbone of this country. These are the people whose works enrich our lives and power an industry worth billions to our economy."

The Senate Committee's recommendations include the establishment of a credentialing system for AI-generated content, increased transparency obligations for technology platforms, and targeted regulatory reforms to curb AI misuse in creative industries. These align with APRA AMCOS's AI and Music Report's findings, which highlighted the fiscal and cultural risks of unregulated AI usage.

The AI and Music Report, commissioned by APRA AMCOS earlier this year, revealed a potential loss of 24% of music industry revenue in Australia and New Zealand over the next four years if generative AI platforms continue unregulated operations, without proper licensing or consent.

Additionally, the report pointed to significant threats to Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), highlighting incidents where AI tools exploit culturally sensitive material without consent, thereby risking cultural heritage and creator livelihoods. The report argued for stringent regulations to ensure equitable compensation and acknowledgment for all creators.

The Senate Committee report emphasised the necessity for proactive regulatory measures and questioned the practices of major tech platforms during the inquiry. The lack of transparency and their unresponsiveness to unauthorised usage issues of creative works stressed the requirement for enforceable safeguards.

Ormston added, "The testimony of some tech platforms during this inquiry demonstrates their unwillingness to take accountability for the harm their technologies are causing. The Committee's recommendations provide a clear framework that supports innovation, but also holds these companies to account, so an environment is fostered where creators' rights are respected and upheld."

He continued, "Significantly, the report reflects unanimous agreement across government, opposition, and crossbench senators on the urgent need to address AI's impact on music and the broader creative sector.

"This bipartisan consensus is a powerful signal that protecting creators is not just a cultural imperative—it is a national priority. We applaud the Committee for its recognition of the creative industry's value and its commitment to ensuring its sustainability in the face of rapid technological change," Ormston concluded.

APRA AMCOS has expressed gratitude to the Committee for its efforts and looks forward to working with the Australian Government to implement these recommendations, ensuring a thriving environment for Australian creators in an AI-driven context.