On Wednesday, News Corp Australia Chairman Michael Miller gave an impassioned keynote speech to the Melbourne Press Club. He urged media organizations to come together in order to combat AI technologies that endanger journalism’s integrity. In his keynote address, Miller focused on the industry’s upcoming transition to a new digital ecosystem. He cautioned that this alteration in the media landscape would put at risk not only the media industry, but the core of Australian identity.
Miller articulated concerns about AI bots that are “hoovering” up content without providing compensation or credit to the original creators. He began by describing how these technologies are unaccountable for the outcomes they yield. This situation raises important ownership, accountability and governance questions in this new digital age.
A Call to Action
In Miller’s raucous and galvanizing speech, she inspired media companies to come together. He sounded the alarm on the prospect of a future “Grand Theft Australia” situation. He reiterated the necessity of robust copyright legislation to safeguard Australian content producers.
“If it was a video game, it would be called Grand Theft Australia.” – Michael Miller
He warned that diluting copyright laws regarding AI could lead to a significant loss of Australian voices and cultural identity. Miller encouraged the federal government to hold tight against lobbying pressure from the tech industry. While the industry lobbies for removal of these legal hurdles, which they claim will deliver billions to Australia, he cautioned that a weakening of these laws would erode the protections within.
Miller was the last speaker and did not mince words, arguing for unity and urgent action on critical policies. He particularly emphasized the necessity of the News Media Assistance Program (NewsMAP) and a bespoke bargaining code for news media. He pointed to the urgency of these measures. They are necessary to ensure the interests of Australian content creators are protected in our rapidly changing digital environment.
The Role of Government
Miller took to task claims from the tech sector that failure to keep tough copyright laws would scare off investment from Australia. He contended that the existing Copyright Act already provides for good faith negotiations between creatives and technology firms. He cautioned that any changes would jeopardize local businesses.
“The Copyright Act … provides the holder with the right to control, agree to terms, be paid and enforce breaches to their copyright, and (it) is perfectly able to deal with AI companies wanting to negotiate,” – Michael Miller
He cautioned that any other mechanisms the government proposes would have “far more damaging effects.” This change would effectively mute Australian voices and foster cultural homogenisation.
The Future of Journalism
Miller’s other key point was that Australians are some of the highest adopters of AI tools in the world. He expressed concern that if these technologies continue to exploit content without proper attribution or payment, it could lead to a drastic decrease in local media production and representation.
“There will be less media, less Australian voices, and less Australian stories, and that is part of our identity that will not be replicated should content be taken and ingested into AI tools given freely,” – Michael Miller
As he concluded his address, Miller underscored the need for a balanced approach to harnessing AI’s potential while safeguarding journalistic integrity. He quickly asserted that this new age should not just be an opportunity to exploit like we did during past technological revolutions.
