Issue 7_Focus from the AOP_July 2026_FINAL - Flipbook - Page 24
A joint effort between creator groups, including the AOP, has set up and officially launched a
Government e-petition asking for generative-AI transparency. We9ve had an incredible response
with over 8,530 responses, but the petition needs over 10,000 signatures by 29 October 2026.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765199
Transparency is the foundation of a functioning copyright system in the age of generative-AI.
Without visibility into what models are trained on and how creators9 works influence outputs,
copyright cannot be enforced. This impacts every creative sector and every creator whose works
are routinely scraped without permission. So please do encourage others in your network to
support it.
AOP BUSINESS & LEGAL
Creator Groups petition asking for transparency over Gen-AI use
amasses 8k+ signatures
A New Prime Minister & New No. 10
Andy Burnham is now firmly in No. 10 as the new UK Prime Minister after no other candidates came forward.
He received an overwhelming majority of votes from Labour Party MPs, and on 20 July, gave his inaugural
speech outside No. 10 Downing Street.
Over the next few days new ministerial appointments were announced, with the departure of key figures
including Peter Kyle MP, who had been at the centre of much of the tech strategy drive under the former PM
Kier Starmer. Additionally, it was announced that there is a No. 10 North, based in Manchester, and an agenda
of greater devolvement to local councils.
Changes to government departments saw 8Digital9 added to the Department for Digital Culture Media & Sport
(DCMS), under which both Secretary of State Lisa Nandy and Minister of state Ian Murray, retain their roles.
While the dissolvement of the Department for Innovation, Science and Technology (DSIT), saw the expansion of
the Department of Business & Trade (DBT) to become the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and
Trade (DBIST), under which Minister of State Kanishka Naranyan retained the role of Minister for AI, and
extended responsibilities for DCMS.
The impact of these changes on the surface look potentially positive for creators and the creative industries,
however, it remains unclear what policy will look like with the AI Minister reporting directly into No. 10 and
cabinet meetings. Previously Naranyan had supported wide data centre expansion, and yet also backed a ban
on social media use for under 16s.
As ever, we9ll be ensuring members9 concerns are voiced to the new administration , whether the precarity of
being a freelancer, late payments, and importantly copyright & AI matters.
A very quick guide to PM Andy Burnham
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyv9qe6wj7o
Ministerial Appointments
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2026
