Received from: NUJ
Merged into composite C10
Congress notes the rapid developments in artificial intelligence technologies in recent years, with decisions taken by publishers on the deployment of technologies within newsrooms. AI policies developed by organisations must be produced in conjunction with unions through meaningful engagement that ensures the voices of journalists are considered.
Congress recognises that the use of AI within journalism must only ever be as an assistive tool with human oversight, to ensure safeguards including on the protection of public trust and confidence in journalism. As mis/disinformation is promoted by AI technologies, government can play a crucial role through sustainable funding of the BBC World Service, to ensure it has the necessary resources to combat harmful rhetoric.
Congress is alarmed by approaches adopted by big tech seeking financial gain at the expense of rightsholders. Across sectors including books and photography, breaches to legal protections afforded journalists have occurred, leading to the use of protected works without express consent or fair remuneration. Freelance journalists face an uphill battle with limited resources to oppose the unlawful use of their content by AI developers to inform and train technologies. Developers must be mandated to reveal sources of their training data where breaches have occurred, to allow journalists to seek redress, and legislation must require rightsholders to opt-in, not out to the use of their works.
Congress instructs the General Council to:
i. support the NUJ’s AI campaign urging an end to rightsholders’ copyright breaches by big tech
ii. campaign for AI generated content to be labelled as such
National Union of Journalists