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Publishers Unite for AI Content Protection

In a significant move, a coalition of hundreds of media publishers, including notable names such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Verge parent company Vox Media, has launched an advertising initiative this week. The campaign, titled Support Responsible AI, is spearheaded by the News/Media Alliance trade association and features various ads in both print and digital formats.

The ads communicate powerful messages with phrases such as “Keep Watch On AI,” “Stop AI Theft,” and “AI Steals From You Too.” Each advertisement concludes with a call to action: “Stealing is un-American. Tell Washington to make Big Tech pay for the content it takes.” This campaign follows recent appeals from OpenAI and Google directed at government authorities, advocating for permissions to utilize copyrighted materials in training their AI models.

Moreover, the advertisements feature a QR code and a link directing viewers to the Support Responsible AI platform, where the public is encouraged to engage with their local lawmakers. The aim is to press for fair compensation for writers, artists, and journalists whose work is utilized by large tech companies. Additionally, the campaign advocates for mandatory attribution in AI-generated content.

Danielle Coffey, President and CEO of the News/Media Alliance, highlighted the concerns within the industry in a recent press release. She stated, “Currently, Big Tech and AI companies are leveraging publishers’ own content against them, using it without permission or compensation to support AI products that divert advertising and subscription revenue from the original content creators.” She clarified that the news media sector is not against AI; rather, it aims to establish a responsible and equitable environment where AI can thrive alongside traditional media.

This initiative is not isolated, as a similar campaign was observed in February within the UK. Numerous prominent newspapers displayed the slogan “MAKE IT FAIR” on their front pages, rallying public support to safeguard against the unauthorized training of AI on copyrighted works. Other contributors to the Support Responsible AI campaign include The Atlantic, Seattle Times, Tampa Bay Times, Wired publisher Condé Nast, and Politico owner Axel Springer.

Source
www.theverge.com