Is Labor going to roll over for big tech – or will it protect the rights of everyday Australians? | Holly Rankin

Summary

The article reports that leaked documents from a proposal being considered by the Australian government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may introduce an “opt-out model” for artificial-intelligence training. Under the reported approach, AI companies could train on publicly available online material in Australia unless individuals or organizations successfully opt out. The article contrasts this with its description of current Australian law, under which companies generally must obtain permission to use copyrighted content. The proposal could affect family photographs, business websites, writing, journalism, music, and other material posted online. The article says the opt-out mechanism has not yet been proven to work and would shift the legal burden from AI companies to content owners. It also cites more than 200 copyright-related cases worldwide involving writers, artists, publishers, journalists, and record labels, while noting that prominent musicians campaigned against a similar approach in the United Kingdom. The author argues that copyright protection should form part of AI regulation and warns that unrestricted access to Australians’ online content could raise national-security concerns. The article calls on the Albanese government and the Coalition to explain the proposal’s benefits transparently and submit the issue to the Australian people. The text does not establish that the proposal has been adopted, finalized, or officially confirmed.