Questions abound over the role of journalism, the impact of technology and the limits of free speech.
Here at CMT we’ve been wondering about the case for extending the News Media Bargaining Code to recognise the use of news content by generative AI (genAI). In a way, we’ve been seeking some substantiation of the claim, beyond the – albeit reasonable – self-interest expressed by leading publishers. In a case for compensation that researchers Evana Wright and David Lindsay start to sketch out below, we think we’ve found the foundation for that argument.
Also on AI, Michael explains the position we’ve adopted in a new submission on ‘Safe and Responsible AI in Australia’, and Sacha gives a round-up of contributions to last week’s symposium on ‘Humanising AI’, organised by UTS academic Heather Ford and doctoral researcher, Emma Clancy. Monica considers News Corp’s active turn to AI for its local newsrooms, while Chris looks at a different aspect of journalism and technology: the educational background of YouTubers engaged in ‘platform journalism’.
While much of our attention is focussed on the ever-expanding topic of AI, commentary on the government’s draft Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill increases in volume and in pitch. Debate rages over the role of a government regulator – the Australian Communications and Media Authority – in decisions on mis- and disinformation. Some of this commentary has been extreme. The bill, designed in part to require digital platforms to submit to ACMA a code of practice under which they would ‘implement measures’ to prevent or respond to mis- and disinformation, does not position ACMA as the source of truth on vilification, vaccinations and climate change. That said, there could be improvements to further distance ACMA from decisions on specific online content.
We’re working up our ideas into a submission to this consultation being conducted by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. In the meantime, as Alexia explains below, the second instalment in our podcast series explores other dimensions of free speech and media freedoms.
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Derek Wilding, CMT Co-Director