The independent senator David Pocock has challenged the Albanese government to rule out letting tech giants use Australian content to train AI models, as cabinet considers proposals to change copyright rules for the rapidly developing technology.
Pocock used Senate question time on Tuesday to ask the government about intense lobbying from AI proprietors over possible new rules and regulations for Australian-made content – including suggestions Labor would create a new “carve out” or extend existing licensing arrangements.
Guardian Australia has been told competing cabinet submissions about the plan are in train, with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and the Attorney-General’s Department split over the best approach.
Ministers could choose between establishing new exemptions from copyright rules, in exchange for greater investment in Australian hosted datacentres, or a possible licensing extension to cover AI model developments.
Under that proposal, AI companies could use Australian content to train their commercial products.
A new fund for creative industries could also be established as part of the package.
Pocock said he had been provided information showing Anthony Albanese was preparing to announce a plan on or about 15 July, potentially offering expedited approvals and investment for new datacentres.
But the industry minister, Tim Ayres, accused Pocock of being reckless in airing the questions publicly in an ABC radio interview on Monday and in parliament on Tuesday.
Ayres said the government would not permit “undermining of copyright protections” as it considers possible new regulations for AI, and praised the assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy, Andrew Charlton, for his handling of AI policy.
“It is absolutely our intention to do what we can to make sure that people who produce content in Australia, who are currently getting ripped off all around the world … we are looking at that question.”
He told the Senate it was in Australia’s national interest to have Australian sovereign capability in technology, particularly where there was competitive advantage.
“It is not this government’s view that we should just be a cork bobbing on the ocean of other people’s technology and a customer at the long end of technology supply chains, that is not in our interest,” he said. “It sells out future generations.”
Pocock challenged Ayres about the possible models being considered by the government but the debate was interrupted as the Senate president, Sue Lines, struggled to control the debate.
He later told the Senate that Ayres had not ruled out the possible moves on AI regulation.
“The minister accused me of reckless speculation, but, rather curiously, could not simply rule out the speculation,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for a moratorium on the building and approval of new datacentres in Australia…
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