A parliamentary committee is calling on Ottawa to mandate clear labelling for certain AI-generated content to promote transparency and uphold the trust of the public.
MPs on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage are urging the federal government to require that all AI content be marked with a standardized label that is easy for the public to see and understand.
It suggests the federal government create a framework to regulate the “systematic and easily identifiable labelling of content” generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence, by using methods such as metadata, digital watermarks, or other reliable technical solutions.
The framework should also distinguish between content that is generated completely by artificial intelligence and content that is created by humans with the help of AI, the report said. This practice would serve to protect the value of human creative work and enable artists, cultural organizations, and institutions to reveal AI use in a consistent and transparent manner, while also supporting the public’s ability to make informed choices, the report’s authors wrote.
AI labelling was one of 13 recommendations released in the report, which was written following a study of the impacts of artificial intelligence on the cultural sector. That study included testimony from a number of witnesses in fields of work affected by the rise of AI including artists, the music and film industries, publishing, and social media.
Approximately half of the witnesses, including some from impacted sectors, said AI tools can be used to enhance efficiency and creativity and increase audience engagement, the report said. But despite the advantages AI offers, most of the testimony heard by the committee expressed “profound concerns” about AI threatening the long-term viability of the creative sector.
Witnesses also told the committee about the unauthorized and uncompensated use of copyrighted material for training AI models; the surge of synthetic content on distribution platforms, which competes with creative professionals and their creations; and the loss of jobs, including entire occupational categories.
Another concern was “the erosion of cultural sovereignty and cultural diversity under the dominance of tech giants,” the report said.
The committee is recommending the government implement the necessary changes to make certain the Copyright Act applies to AI-generated content. It also said more transparency should be required of AI developers who use copyrighted works to train their models, to allow for “proper authorization and licensing.”
Creators’ works should not be used for text and data mining or model development without authorization, the report’s authors said.
The government should regulate all harmful outcomes of AI to protect Canadians, the report said, but should not limit the technology itself, so innovation and competitiveness can be encouraged and maintained.
