Science & Tech · AI · 2 hrs ago
Australia weighs copyright changes for AI training amid creative-sector pushback
The Australian government is considering changing copyright rules so AI companies can use Australian creative works to train their models.
OpenAI and Anthropic say current rules make local training difficult, and have linked investment in Australia to changes in the law.
A report commissioned by the Australian Recording Industry Association argues that companies are presenting commercial demands as national security needs.
Former intelligence official Michael Shoebridge says copyrighted art and writing are not needed for defence and cybersecurity work, while Australia’s signals intelligence chief has said local AI training could bring security benefits.
Artists, musicians and other creatives oppose weaker protections, including a system that would let companies use work unless creators opt out.
The dispute matters to creators’ control over their work and to how Australia develops its AI industry.
Draft laws are expected by the end of 2026, with parliament due to consider them in 2027.
Australia is considering copyright changes that could let AI companies use Australian creative works to train their models.
The proposal has alarmed artists and other creative businesses, including in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler.
Technology companies say existing copyright rules make it too difficult to train models in Australia, while creatives warn that default access without permission or payment would exploit their work.
A defence report argues that claims linking looser copyright rules to national security are unproven and that weakening protections could create security risks.
Draft laws are expected by the end of 2026, with parliamentary consideration due in 2027.
- Who
- The federal government is considering changes sought by AI companies; artists, creative businesses and security analyst Michael Shoebridge have raised concerns.
- What
- Proposed copyright changes could give AI companies broader access to Australian creative works to train models.
- When
- Draft laws are expected by the end of 2026, with parliamentary consideration due in 2027.
- Where
- Australia, including Anthony Albanese’s Grayndler electorate in Sydney’s inner west.
- Why
- AI companies say existing copyright rules make local training too difficult; the government is considering reforms as part of a broader AI policy suite.
AI companies and supporters of local AI training
Creatives and copyright defenders
Copyright access
AI companies and supporters of local AI training
OpenAI has said existing laws prevent it from establishing an Australian training centre, and Anthropic has called individual licensing technically impossible.
Creatives and copyright defenders
Artists and industry groups oppose weakening copyright protections and warn that an opt-out system could let companies use their work without prior permission or payment.
National security
AI companies and supporters of local AI training
Australian Signals Directorate director-general Abigail Bradshaw said local training of advanced AI models would bring significant national security benefits.
Creatives and copyright defenders
Michael Shoebridge argues that companies have not shown how training on Australian creative works would improve national security and warns that weaker protections could create security risks.
Labor’s proposals were leaked as OpenAI personnel met Labor ministers and warned that Australia’s copyright laws prevented local model training.
Australian Signals Directorate director-general Abigail Bradshaw told a parliamentary inquiry that local training of advanced AI models would bring significant national security benefits.
Guardian Australia reported growing opposition among creatives in Albanese’s Grayndler electorate to the proposed changes.
Strategic Analysis Australia’s report challenged claims that relaxing copyright protections was necessary for national security.
The federal government’s draft laws are expected.
Parliament is due to consider the proposed laws.
- Grayndler
- More than 3,000 cultural and creative businesses
- Creative employment in Grayndler
- 10% of workers, compared with 4.2% nationally
- Draft laws
- Expected by the end of 2026
- Parliamentary consideration
- Due in 2027
- Report author
- Michael Shoebridge
- Report commissioner
- Australian Recording Industry Association
3 sources
What people are saying
AI for national security does not need Powderfinger’s back catalogue.
Nobody has shown how training an AI model on Australian songs, novels or paintings makes us any better at stopping a cyberattack on the power grid or disrupting a terrorist plot.
significant benefits for national security
It just really pinpoints how Australia’s [a] test market and they’re happy for us to just be a little resource to be exploited