Elton John Leads Creative Industry Pushback on AI Proposal

The UK government faces sharp criticism from music icon Elton John, who has condemned proposed AI copyright reforms as "criminal," accusing officials of effectively "stealing" from artists.

He said in a BBC interview on Sunday:

"The danger is for young artists, they haven't got the resources to keep checking or fight big tech. It's criminal and I feel incredibly betrayed."

He added:

"A machine ... doesn't have a soul, doesn't have a heart, it doesn't have human feeling, it doesn't have passion. Human beings, when they create something, are doing it ... to bring pleasure to lots of people."

The controversy centers on a government plan to relax copyright laws, enabling AI developers to train models using any creative works they can lawfully access—without compensating the original creators.

John warned that proceeding with such measures would amount to "theft on a high scale."

In response, John has joined a coalition of prominent artists and industry figures in an open letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support amendments introduced by Baroness Beeban Kidron to the Data (Use and Access) Bill.

The coalition demands greater transparency around which copyrighted works AI models ingest, emphasizing the urgent need to protect creators’ rights and ensure fair compensation.

The letter is endorsed by renowned figures such as Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ed Sheeran, and Dua Lipa, alongside over 400 signatories from groups including the National Union of Journalists, Getty Images, and Sony Music Publishing. h

Having sold over 300 million records across six decades, John, a known supporter of Starmer’s Labour Party, affirmed his commitment to defending young artists and opposing changes that could undermine their creative ownership.

UK Seeks to Control AI Revolution, Setting the Agenda Early

The Data Bill forms a key pillar of the UK’s broader “AI Opportunities Action Plan,” a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the nation’s artificial intelligence capabilities.

The proposal outlines measures to scale infrastructure, embed AI across public services, and nurture domestic talent—positioning the UK as a leader in the global AI race.

“[We intend to] shape the AI revolution rather than wait to see how it shapes us,” wrote Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, in the accompanying report.

According to government estimates, AI has the potential to raise UK productivity by up to 1.5% annually, contributing as much as £47 billion (US$62.5 billion) each year to the economy if fully realised.

Still, the bill has sparked heated debate.

Recent disagreements center on whether AI developers should be required to disclose the datasets used to train their models—particularly when it involves copyrighted material.

While some legislators have pushed for stronger transparency and creator protections, the House of Commons rejected amendments from the House of Lords that would have mandated AI firms to seek permission before using copyrighted works.