Elton John, a British pop star, called the UK government “absolute losers” on Sunday over proposed copyright law changes that would grant tech companies exemptions.
“Rocket Man” star John blasted the government for allegedly preparing to “rob young people of their legacy and their income” in a blistering interview that the BBC broadcast.
Tech companies could use creators’ content without restrictions, according to him, if the changes were “criminal.”
However, John, 78, who has sold over 300 million records worldwide during his illustrious career, claimed that young artists lack the tools to “fight big tech””.
He claimed that while artificial intelligence (AI), a line should be drawn between creativity and music.
The data (use and access) bill passed through parliament in the government.
The parliament’s upper house supported a change that would require copyright holders to consent to how and when their work was used, as well as who and when to use it.
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However, on Wednesday, MPs in the Labour government’s overwhelmingly majority voted against the changes.
According to John, the government’s planned changes to copyright laws would be “committing theft, thievery on a high scale” if they were to be implemented.
John criticized Technology Secretary Peter Kyle as a “bit of a moron,” calling him “the government are just being absolute losers” and “i’m very angry about it.”
While citing that the technology represented “a huge opportunity,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously said the government needs to “get the balance right” regarding copyright and AI.
They should not sell us down the river, John said, urging Starmer to “wise up” and “see sense.”
Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, and Damon Albarn, among others, released a silent album in February to voice their opposition to the proposed changes, which they claim would make music theft legal.
In a letter to The Times newspaper earlier this month, writers and musicians like John and Bush also wrote in opposition to the proposals as a “wholesale giveaway” to Silicon Valley.
Other signatories included writers Kazuo Ishiguro, Michael Morpurgo, and Helen Fielding as well as musicians Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Sting.
Source: Channels TV
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