Statement on the EU AI Regulation by Björn Ulvaeus, President of CISAC

The EU AI Act is a vital first step by policy makers to ensure creators and the creative industries are properly protected in the age of age of AI. It is essential that, at this key moment when many are looking for the EU to provide leadership, the necessary steps are taken to safeguard human creativity and protect creators’ rights. To do this, the EU AI Act must lay down transparency obligations on AI operators. This was proposed in the original text of the Act, which I support, but has been contested by some governments.

AI will bring amazing benefits for creators and the creative sector. But correct and sensible regulation is essential to unlocking this potential. Transparency obligations are a pre-requisite and must be included in the AI Act. Without the right provisions requiring transparency, the rights of the creator to authorise and get paid for use of their works will be undermined and impossible to implement.

Transparency obligations are now the focus of intense discussion of the draft EU regulation. I hope it is understood what is at stake here, and that those countries with the strongest and proudest cultural traditions have the greatest interest in protecting their own creators and culture sectors in the AI-impacted future. I hope that those countries will understand that  transparency rules in the AI age will help them protect their own songwriters, artists and other creators and can be adopted without fear of stifling technology or innovation.