Sony Music reveals 75,000+ deepfake takedowns amid UK government AI plans pushback
Sony is just one of the major labels that has challenged the UK government’s AI reforms.
Sony Music has revealed it has requested the removal of over 75,000 AI-generated deepfake recordings featuring popular artists like Harry Styles, Queen, and Beyoncé. This revelation was part of Sony’s submission to a UK government consultation on AI copyright laws, where the company strongly criticised proposed policy changes that could make it easier for AI companies to exploit copyrighted music.
Major record labels have already spoken out against the UK government’s approach to AI copyright exemptions, arguing that the proposed “text and data mining” rules could harm musicians. Sony Music is the latest to criticise the policy, calling it “rushed, unbalanced and irreversible,” and cautioning that it could significantly damage the UK creative economy.
Under the current proposals, AI companies could use copyrighted materials for training purposes without permission unless creators explicitly opt out. Concerns have already been raised that this opt-out system places too much burden on copyright holders rather than AI developers. Sony Music likened the situation to requiring homeowners to tag all their belongings to prevent burglary.
Sony’s submission highlights the increasing challenge of policing AI-generated content. The rise of AI-generated music has led to a surge in deepfake recordings – tracks that mimic the voices and styles of real artists without their permission. Streaming platforms are already struggling to handle the sheer volume of AI-generated content, with Deezer reporting 10,000 AI recordings uploaded daily.
Meanwhile, AI music generator Mubert claims to have produced 100 million tracks, and Boomy has created 17 million. This raises concerns about how independent musicians can protect their work in an industry increasingly influenced by AI.
To protest the reforms, over 1,000 artists, including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, and Damon Albarn, have released a “silent album” titled Is This What We Want? The tracklist on the back cover spells out a direct message: “The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies.”