Ban the use of AI for image, video and audio creation

Legislate to ban the AI generation of images, videos and audio to protect the British public from misinformation, harmful and harassing content, and to protect jobs in the creative sectors.

This ban should include AI tools from being used in the UK, as well as any foreign AI content to be banned on social media and television. This could help protect against things like false advertisement and fake or misleading content.

The development of AI offers an opportunity to grow the UK economy and improve public services. It also poses risks – from the generation of misinformation and harmful content to the potential disruption of the labour market. The Government takes these risks seriously.

AI is already regulated in the UK through existing laws such as data protection, competition, and equalities legislation, and through forms of sectoral regulation. For example, services regulated under the Online Safety Act are required to have systems in place to address fraudulent advertising, illegal content and content harmful to children, including AI-generated content. Internet-based generative AI services that allow users to share content with one another, that search live websites to provide search results, or which produce pornographic content are regulated under the Online Safety Act.

The Government does not have any plans to legislate to ban the AI generation of images, videos and audio. Such a ban would block the UK from accessing the benefits that AI offers to people’s daily lives, public services and the economy.

However, the Government is committed to strengthening protections where required. Where existing laws are not enough to ensure safety, the Government will take action. We have already legislated to create new offences where needed, such as the a new offence covering the creation of non-consensual intimate images. The Government has also announced that it will legislate in the Crime and Policing Bill to ban ‘nudification’ tools – tools that use AI to turn normal images of real people into fake nude pictures and videos without their consent.

The Technology Secretary confirmed in Parliament that the Government is exploring how emerging services, such as AI chatbots, interact with the Online Safety Act and what further measures may be required.

The Government recognises the concerns of our world-leading creative industries. We are looking at how we can unlock the extraordinary potential of AI in this sector, while protecting the unique and important contribution human creativity makes to our economy and quality of life.

AI is transforming the world of work more generally. The Government is committed to ensuring that AI drives opportunity, not insecurity, for working people. We have established the AI and the Future of Work Unit which uses cutting-edge research and expert insight to stay ahead of risks and act early to support workers. The Unit works across government but is based in DSIT. It will help prepare the UK for AI-driven labour market transformation by researching and monitoring AI’s economic and labour market impacts, and providing advice on new policies to be implemented.

The Government is committed to supporting a free, sustainable and plural media landscape, as the best way to maintain a shared understanding of facts, and protect against the spread of disinformation. The government is taking steps to support a healthy news and information environment in the UK and strengthen and maintain a plural, thriving and trusted media sector.

The Government continues to work with a wide range of stakeholders to gather evidence, understand emerging issues and develop policy that carefully balances both the risks and opportunities of AI.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology