Australian Government Admits Big Tech Uses Local Content Without Permission

By Jackson Worthington

By David Marchese

triple j Hack

Music Industry

Saturday, 18 July 2026, 5:28 am

Some Australian artists' music is used to train AI models without their permission.

In short:

The government says tech companies have used Australian music without permission.

Australian artists feel their rights have been violated.

What's next?

The government will create an Office of AI to set standards.

Experts welcome the plan but have many questions.

Minister Tim Ayres says using Australian content without permission is 'unethical'.

He says copyright is only meaningful if there's payment involved.

The comments come after the Prime Minister announced plans for an Office of AI.

The office will develop standards for artificial intelligence in Australia.

The plan includes protecting Australia's copyright law.

No company should use Australian content without the artist's control.

That includes controlling the price and value of their work.

Anything less is theft.

Minister Tim Ayres says tech companies using Australian content without permission are unethical.

Australia has a responsibility to build its own answer.

Aussie artists are already affected.

A database was created from four datasets used in AI development.

The datasets contain a lot of Australian music.

Smol Fish didn't know their music was used to train AI.

The band is confused and thinks it's illegal.

It should be illegal.

The band had no idea until they were contacted.

Playlunch's music was also used in AI training datasets.

The band's lead singer says it's bizarre but not surprising.

The band will focus on creating music that connects with people.

Their job is to make music for people who want to listen.

Having an earworm made by AI is like having microplastics in your brain.

Ethical AI is needed to protect cultural property.

Perth-based rapper Flewnt is glad people are taking notice.

Flewnt wishes more was done to protect First Nations stories years ago.

AI can recite its own version of old creation stories.

Flewnt wants to protect cultural material and have communities involved.

Permission is necessary for using cultural material.

The devil is in the details.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says the government's plan lacks substance.

Australian artists want a seat at the table in the new Office of AI.

The Prime Minister has created an office to deal with AI issues.

There are many unanswered questions.

Music rights organizations welcome the commitment to copyright protection.

Experts say the announcement is a step in the right direction.

The devil is in the details.

There are no mechanisms to force AI companies to disclose data and pay fairly.

Innovation Minister Tim Ayres says work is ongoing to protect artists.

Australia is taking a world-leading approach to AI.

Tech companies say they will work within new regulations.

Two leading AI companies will work with the government.

Anthropic takes its responsibility to meet the government's terms seriously.

AI will reshape democracies and economies, bringing benefits and challenges.

Anthropic respects the process articulated by the Prime Minister.

OpenAI is committed to working on a practical solution.

Saturday, 18 July 2026, 5:28 am

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